Athina Kostner reviews Holes by Louis Sachar

Chapter 1

Camp Green Lake is not a lake anymore: over hundred years ago the lake dried up and the people of the little town next to the lake moved away. They left that place not only because there was no lake anymore, but also because the temperature was usually about ninety degrees. In the holes dug by the campers we can find rattlesnakes and scorpions, but the most dangerous animal at the camp are yellow-spotted lizards. If someone is bitten by one of those, there is nothing you can do anymore to survive.

Chapter 2

Now Camp Green Lake is a camp for bad boys that had committed a crime, instead of going to jail. They have to dig a hole every day under the hot sun to get more educated and to become good boys. Stanley Yelnats was given a choice. He could choice between jail or Camp Green Lake. He chose the camp because he had never been to a camp before, because his family was poor.

Chapter 3

Stanley rode to Camp Green Lake on a bus, being the only passenger. He thought he was going to go to one of the camps where the rich children go and hoped he would find some friends. Stanley had been arrested for a crime he did not commit. Stanley and his family always seem to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and they blame their bad luck on Stanley’s no-good-dirty-rotten- pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather. This great-great-grandfather had stolen a pig from a Gypsy who put a curse on the great- great-grandfather and his descendants. Although they do not believe in curses, but they think they are very unlucky. Stanley’s father is an inventor, but because he never has any luck his inventions never work. The first Stanley Yelnats, the protagonist’s great grandfather, was robbed by Kissin’ Kate Barlow. If Stanley’s great grandfather had not been robbed, Stanley might be living in a mansion in California instead of in a Texas apartment that smelles of burning rubber and foot odor caused by Stanley’s father’s attempts to invent a way to recycle old sneakers. Stanley thinks it is cool that his great-grandfather was robbed by an outlaw. Kate Barlow only kissed the men she killed so she did not actually kiss Stanley’s great-grandfather because she did not kill him. Stanley arrived at Camp Green Lake, after a ride of about nine hours.

Chapter 4

The only things he saw when he left the bus were a few tents, a few buildings, and two trees by a cabin. The only plants were two trees, there were not even weeds. Stanley went into one of the buildings where he met Mr. Sir inside. Mr. Sir was eating sunflower seeds and said that they are his substitute for smoking. Mr. Sir introduced himself and commanded Stanley to always call him Mr. Sir when he talked to him. Then he tells Stanley, “You’re not in the Girl Scouts anymore.” Mr. Sir give Stanley two sets of orange jumpsuits, orange T-shirts, yellow socks, and one towel. Mr. Sir then told Stanley that one set of clothing was for working and the other was for his free time. He had to dig one hole every day, even on weekends. Every hole had to be five feet deep and five feet across. His shovel was five feet long and was to be used as a measuring stick. Breakfast was at 4:30am so that the boys could work before the sun was out and the day got hotter.

Chapter 5

There were six tents labeled A through F. The counselors slept in tent F and the campers, or juvenile delinquents, slept in the other tents. Stanley was assigned to tent D with Mr. Pendanski as his counselor. Mr. Pendanski was very friendly and showed Stanley everything. Pendanski introduced Stanley to the other campers. The campers all had real names and nicknames. Mr. Pendanski introduced Rex and Alan but their nicknames were X-Ray and Squid. X-Ray wore glasses and asked where Barf Bag was. Mr. Pendanski, who called the campers by their birth names, said that Lewis was in a hospital and would not be returning. Mr. Pendanski introduces José, Theodore, and Ricky as well. They are also known as Magnet, Armpit, and Zigzag. Zero is the last boy that Stanley meets. The boys called the counselor “mom”.

Chapter 6

Because there was no hot water Stanley had to have a cold shower. He ate a disgusting dinner, and one of the campers asked him for what reason he was at the camp. Stanley told him that he had stolen a pair of sneakers from the famous baseball player Clyde “Sweet Feet” Livingston. He didn’t tell them he was innocent. He knew nobody would believe him. When Stanley went back to his smelly cot he thought on the crime he didn’t commit. The day Stanley was arrested he had to walk home because he had missed the bus. While he was walking, a pair of shoes had fallen from a freeway overpass, and hit him on the head. Since his father was doing experiments with shoes, especially sneakers, Stanley ran home to bring them to his father. The shoes had smelled very bad. Because he was running, a police car pulled him over and took the shoes. Stanley later found out that the shoes belonged to Clyde Livingston and had been donated to a homeless shelter to raise money. Stanley was convicted of stealing the shoes and sent to Camp Green Lake.

Chapter 7

The next day Stanley had to dig his first hole and it was very hard for him. His hands hurt very much, but Mr. Pendanski told him this was good to build character. Stanley’s great-great-grandfather was from Latvia and his name was Elya Yelnats. When he was fifteen he fell in love with a fourteen year old girl: Myra Menke. Elya wanted to marry her but so did Igor Barkov, a fifty-seven year old pig farmer. Elya couldn’t offer Myra’s father a such big pig like Igor could so he visited Madame Zeroni, an old Egyptian woman with only one foot. She told Elya to go to America and to forget Myra, because she was a pretty but quite stupid girl. However, Elya couldn’t stop thinking about her. So Madame Zeroni gave him a little pig and told him to carry it up the mountain every day and to let it drink from the stream with water that runs uphill. So the pig would grow from day to day and it would be bigger than Igor’s one. She also made Elya promise that after he showd the pig to Myra’s father he had to carry her, Madame Zeroni, up the mountain and sing to her. If he didn’t, then she said she will put a curse on his family. But on the day that he brang the pig to Myra’s house he realized that Myra is very stupid and that she didn’t even care who she married. Disillusioned, Elya got on a boat bound for America, forgetting his promise to Madame Zeroni. In America he learnd English and married a woman who was strong and smart. Elya and his wife had a son who they named Stanley Yelnats because they liked that Stanley is Yelnats spelled backwards. Even though they all worked so hard, they had a lot of bad luck in their lives and Elya began to believe that Madame Zeroni had cursed him.

Chapter 8

The dangerous yellow-spotted lizard have eleven yellow spots, which are hard to see on their yellow-green body. They have black very teeth, and white tongues. They live in holes, which offer them shade. They eat small animals, insects, cactus thorns and sunflower seeds.

Chapter 9

After digging his first hole, Stanley returned to the camp. Stanley bumped into a large boy who trieed to pick a fight with him. Stanley tried to avoid the fight and X-Ray and Armpit came to his rescue saying, “You don’t want to mess with the Caveman.” Stanley, Armpit, Squid, and X-Ray talked about the trouble of digging holes. Stanley has brought his box of paper to the wreck room because he wanted to write a letter to his mother. In the letter he told her he was having a good time. In the middle of writing his letter Stanley noticed that Zero was staring at his letter. Zero asked him, “Did the shoes have red X’s on the back?” Stanley responded that they did and then the two heard Armpit and Squid calling Caveman to come to dinner. Stanley realizes that his nickname was Caveman.

Chapter 10

Stanley’s second hole was even harder to dig than the first one. His whole body hurt and he was so tired because he hadn’t any sleep. While he was digging he found a fish fossil. Mr. Pendanski once told him that if he would find anything interesting he might not have to finish his hole, if the Warden likes the thing he found. When the water truck came Stanley noticed that there was always an order to the line, and he was the last one. Stanley showed the fish fossil to Mr. Pendanski but he said that the fossil was not what the Warden wanted. Stanley had to finish digging his hole.

Chapter 11

X-Ray told Stanley to give him anything else interesting that he found in his hole. X- Ray explained him that his nickname was pig latin for his real name, Rex. Stanley agreed because he wanted X-Ray to like him. Stanley wonders why everyone follows what X-Ray does. He realized that X-Ray was the smallest boy apart from Zero and that he, Stanley, was actually the largest boy.

Chapter 12

After, when Stanley finished digging his second hole he returned to camp, Mr. Pendanski talked with him and the rest of his group. Mr. Pendanski asked each boy what he wanted to do as a career, after leaving Camp Green Lake. Zero was silent at first but then he replied that he likes digging holes.

Chapter 13

In the next days, Stanley found a small gold tube with a heart engraved on it. Inside the heart are engraved the initials KB. He has told X-Ray that he would give him anything he found so that X-Ray could have the day off. Reluctantly, Stanley gave X-Ray the tube. Because it was almost the end of the day, Stanley suggested that X-Ray kept the tube until the next day so that if the Warden liked what he had found he could get the whole day off instead of just an hour. X-Ray agreed that this was a very good plan and X-Ray told Stanley to move up one place in line of the water, ahead of Zero.

Chapter 14

The next day X-Ray went to Mr. Pendanski and showed him the gold tube. Mr. Pendanski went to inform the Warden about X-Ray’s find. The Warden was a tall woman with red hair. She gave X-Ray the day off and ordered Mr. Pendanski to fill the canteens for the boys again.

Chapter 15

The warden ordered Zero to dig X-Ray’s hole and Stanley to sift through the dirt that Zero dug. She put two boys on every hole, one to dig and the other to sift. All of the boys were promised a double shower and the day off if they would find anything. Stanley wonders how the Warden knew he was called Caveman, then Zigzag told him that the Warden had installed small hidden cameras and microphones in the whole camp. Stanley realized that the Warden wanted the boys to dig in order to find something. He made a mental note of the location of the hole where he found the gold tube in.

Chapter 16

The next day the Warden followed the boys to their holes. As Stanley sifted through dirt he tries to think of what the gold tube might have been. After digging the boys returned to the Wreck room where Mr. Pendanski gave Stanley a letter. After the boys left for dinner Stanley reads the letter from his mother. She told him that she is proud of him and that their landlord was threatening to evict them because his father’s experiments with shoes made the whole apartment smell awful. Stanley saw Zero behind him and he was surprised because he thought everyone had left. He told Zero what his mother had written.

Chapter 17

The next day the boys continued to dig in the spot that the Warden believed contained the gold tube, but nobody except Stanley and X-Ray knew that that was the wrong hole. The Warden got inpatient and told Mr. Pendanski that he was giving the boys too much water. As they continued to dig Zigzag knocked Stanley in the head with a shovel, cutting a gash near his ear. Mr. Sir made him a bandage out of a sack of sunflower seeds and told him to get back to work.

Chapter 18

Later, the boys began to dig in another section of the dried up lake. Stanley had become stronger now and finished his holes faster, even before many other boys did. He returns to the camp and wrote a letter to his mother in his tent so that the other boys wouldn’t see him. Again, Zero looked over his shoulder. Zero reveals that he didn’t know how to read or write and asked Stanley to teach him.

Chapter 19

One night Stanley heard Squid crying, so the next morning Stanley asked Squid if he was okay and Squid reacts angry. Stanley didn’t talk to the other boys very much because he was afraid of making them angry. One day after Mr. Sir fills their canteens, Magnet stole his bag full of sunflower seeds. When Magnet threw the bag to Stanley, all of the seeds dropped into Stanley’s hole and spill. Mr. Sir returned to the lake and catches Stanley with the bag of seeds. Now Stanley was again in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mr. Sir asked Stanley who stole them and Stanley took the blame instead of Magnet. Then Mr. Sir took Stanley to the Warden.

Chapter 20

Mr. Sir explained that someone stole the sunflower seeds, but he didn’t think it was Stanley. The Warden asked Stanley to bring a makeup case over to her. In the case there was a lipstick case and a bottle of red nail polish. The Warden explained that the nail polish had rattlesnake venom in it. The polish is harmless when dry but toxic while wet. Stanley was afraid, but the Warden then painted the nails on her hands and slapped Mr. Sir across the face. Her wet nail polish made him shout aloud because of the pain. The Warden told Stanley, “He’s not going to die…Unfortunately for you.”

Chapter 21

The boy went back to his hole and thought of how his great-grandfather had felt after being robbed by Kissin’ Kate Barlow and then stranded in the desert. By the time Stanley’s great-grandfather was rescued he was insane. He claimed that he had “found refuge on God’s thumb.” He married a nurse from the hospital after he recovered but he never knew what he meant by “God’s thumb”. When Stanley arrived to his hole he found that Zero had dug it for him.

Chapter 22

When he was back in the tent, Stanley thanked Zero for digging his hole. Then he asked why he helped him, and Zero said that Stanley didn’t steal the sunflower seeds and he also said “You didn’t steal the sneakers.” After this, Stanley offered to teach Zero to read and they made a deal in which Zero would dig Stanley’s hole for an hour every day so that Stanley wouldn’t be as tired when he taught Zero in the evening. He began to teach Zero the alphabet and discovered that Zero wasn’t as stupid as the other boys and Mr. Pendanski thought. At night Stanley worried what X-Ray would have said when Zero dug for Stanley. Then he thought of the gold tube he found and realized it is like something he had seen in the Warden’s bathroom; it was half a lipstick container. He wondered if the initials KB could stand for Kate Barlow.

Chapter 23

Now Green Lake is described as it was one hundred and ten years ago: a beautiful lake of clear water. Miss Katherine Barlow was the teacher of the one room schoolhouse of the town and she made wonderful spiced peaches that were preserved to last a year or longer. Charles Walker, who was also called Trout, came to classes that Miss Katherine taught. Trout did not come to learn, he was from the richest family in town and he wanted to marry Miss Katherine. One day he asked Miss Katherine to go on a ride with him in his new motorized boat. Trout is used to getting his own way so he is shocked and angry when Miss Katherine refuses to go with him.

Chapter 24

Mr Sir’s face was very swollen from the Warden’s rattlesnake venom and he jells at a boy who comments at his face. The next day Stanley didn’t get any water while digging the holes.

Chapter 25

We return to the time were Green Lake was still a lake. Sam, the onion man, sold onions and remedies from town. The name of his donkey is Mary Lou who pulls his cart of onions. He rowed across the lake with his boat to arrive to his secret onion field where the water runs uphill. He meant that onions are much better than medicine. The people of the town don’t, but if neither medicine helps hey ask Sam for help. One day Miss Katherine asks Sam to fix the hole in the schoolhouse roof. If he would help her she would give him some of her spiced peaches. So he did and the two became good friends. Sam couldn’t visit school because he was black. The two met more often because they liked their conversations and Miss Katherine continues to find things for Sam to fix in the schoolhouse. When there was nothing left to fix she told Sam her heart was broken and he kissed her. Someone of the town, Hattie Parker, saw them and pointed at them whispering -God will punish you-.

Chapter 26

Still hundred years ago, the news speeded that the two kissed. At this time it was against the law for black man to kiss a white woman. The angry town came to the schoolhouse to attack Miss Katherine and her books. She ran to the sheriff for help but he was drunk and preparing to hang Sam. Miss Katherine ran to Sam and both climb into his boat. Sam was rowing very hard but Trout Walker’s motorized boat was faster. Walker crashes into them and Sa was shot and killed. After that day, not one drop of rain has ever fallen on Green Lake. Three days after Sam’s death Katherine Barlow killed the Sheriff and then applied lipstick before kissing his dead face. Then Katherine Barlow spent twenty years as a dangerous outlaw in the West, known as Kissin’ Kate Barlow.

Chapter 27

Stanely had to pay attention to his water because Mr. Sir didn’t fill Stanley’s canteen anymore. When Zero spent an hour digging Stanley’s hole the other boys mocked Stanley for having a slave. X-Ray says, ” Same old story…the while boy sits while the black boy does all the work.” Stanley continued to teach Zero, who was a fast learner. One day Zero wrote his name and told Stanley that his real name was Hector Zeroni.

Chapter 28

Kate Barlow was an outlaw for over twenty years, then she returned to Green Lake. There were two oak trees near a cabin, where she lived. After three years there, Trout Walker and his wife, the redhead Lind Miller, tied Kate up while she was sleeping. Trout had lost all his money and asked Kate where she had hidden her outlaw loot. Trout and Linda made Kate walk barefoot across the hot sand until she dies from the bite of a yellow-spotted lizard. Kate never told them where the money was hidden.

Chapter 29

At the camp it was very hot as usually. One day Stanley saw dark clouds near the mountains in the west. He heard thunder and lightning but no rain. During a flash of lightning Stanley thought one of the mountains looked like a giant fist with a thumb sticking up. He thought of how his stranded great- grandfather said he had found refuge on God’s thumb.

Chapter 30

Stanley thought about God’s thumb and wonders if Kate Barlow lived in this area and if it was actually her gold lipstick tube that he found. When Mr. Pendanski brang their bag lunches the other boys taunted Stanley about having Zero dig Stanley’s hole for him. Zigzag pushes Stanley and they started fight. The Warden came and most of the boys told her that Zero had been digging some of Stanley’s hole. Stanley explained that he was teaching Zero to read. The Warden forbade Stanley to teach Zero to read and Mr. Pendanski taunted Zero about how stupid he was. Zero got angry and said that he would not dig any more holes. When Mr. Pendanski tells him that digging holes was all he would ever be good for, Zero smashed his shovel across Mr. Pendanski’s face and ran away. The Warden told the other counselors not to care about Zero because he would have to return for water. Then she said that the other six boys still had to dig seven holes, also without Zero.

Chapter 31

Also Stanley was angry with everyone including himself. He wanted to help Zero. He hoped Zero would travel to the mountain that looks like a thumb.

Chapter 32

After a few days Zero still didn’t come back and so his cot was given to another new boy called Brian. Stanley worried about Zero and so he decided to steal the water track of Mr. Sir. He didn’t know how to drive it but he races away in few seconds. Soon he drove into a hole. He got out and ran away.

Chapter 33

No one followed him as he ran away. While he ran he saw a lot of holes and at the inside of them many yellow-spotted lizards. He ran away from the lizards and later found one sunflower seed in a burlap bag.

Chapter 34

He walked towards the thumb mountain. Suddenly he saw something. It was a part of a boat named Mary Lou and under it he found Zero.

Chapter 35

Zero was very thirsty but he didn’t want to get back to the camp. He had still the shovel with him. He had found many jars of a muddy looking liquid that he called sploosh. Stanley didn’t want to drink it because he realized that it was probably at least 100 years old, but he was so thirsty that he did. It tasted like peaches. After Zero had a bad stomachache.

Chapter 36

Stanley and Zero wanted to go to God’s thumb. Stanley spelled word for Zero to keep him occupied, because his stomachache was terrible. They climbed up towards the thumb. At one point Zero used the shovel to help Stanley up part of a cliff. This caused Zero, who was already weak and sick, to get big cuts in his hands.

Chapter 37

The two continue to walk uphill but Zero threw up along the way.

Chapter 38

Stanley carried Zero up the mountain. The smell in the air is strange, it is bitter. On the top of the mountain there was mud on the ground. Stanley realized that mud meant there was water nearby and this renewed his strength. He dug an onion out of the mud and he and Zero both ate half of it.

Chapter 39

Stanley was in the middle of a giant meadow. Zero was still very sick but he told Stanley that once it was he, Zero, who stole Clyde Livingston’s shoes from the homeless shelter. He apologized to Stanley and Stanley sang Zero the song that Madame Zeroni taught his great-great- grandfather.

Chapter 40

We turn back to hundred and ten years ago when Sam was selling onions. A woman bought an onion that saved her daughter. Now Stanley and Zero spent two days up there eating onions.

Chapter 41

Zero told Stanley he was homeless. He often went to the homeless shelter that Clyde Livingston’s shoes were in. He took the shoes because he thought it was better to steal a pair of old shoes than to steal a pair of new shoes. He couldn’t read the sign on the shoe. Zero was wearing them when people discovered they were stolen. Everyone was so upset about the stolen shoes that Zero ran outside and put the shoes on top of a car. The next day Zero was arrested when he stole a new pair of shoes.

Chapter 42

The two made a hole for the water with a shovel. Stanley realized that he was happier than he has ever been before. He realized he was happy he got arrested because he had a new friend and liked himself as well. Stanley thought about secretly returning to the camp and digging up the treasure that may be in the hole where he once found the lipstick container.

Chapter 43

They plan to return to the camp and to dig up the treasure. While they waited Zero told Stanley more about him and his life. He remembered his mother singing him the same song that Stanley sang, only with different words. One day Zero’s mother left him in a park and told him to wait for her. He waited for a month, but she never returned. As they returned to Camp Green Lake, Zero steered them in the right direction after Stanley takes a wrong turn. They reached camp and hid near the hole that Stanley found the lipstick tube in.

Chapter 44

As it was dark Stanley dug in the hole and Zero sneaked into camp to get water and food. Stanley and Zero finally dug up a suitcase and just as they were preparing to leave a light shone in their faces and they found the Warden standing in front of them.

Chapter 45

The Warden shone a big flashlight on Zero, who was holding that suitcase, until she saw that there was a yellow-spotted lizard on the suitcase. Stanley realized he was standing in the lizard’s nest. The Warden, along with Mr. Pendanski and Mr. Sir, waited for the lizards to leave. The Warden talked about how once she grew up digging holes with her parents, looking for the suitcase.

Chapter 46

Stanley and Zero tried to don’t move because of the lizards. Mr. Sir told Stanley that Stanley’s lawyer had shown up the day before to say that Stanley was innocent of stealing the shoes.

Chapter 47

The lizards crawled away as the sun came out. Zero asked Stanley if his first name is his last name spelled backwards. Mr. Pendanski arrived with a woman and a man. The woman said she is Stanley’s lawyer. The Warden said that Stanley stole the suitcase that Zero was holding. The lizards scurried away and the Warden tried to take the suitcase from Zero but he says it belonged to Stanley. Zero showed everyone the other side of the suitcase where the name Stanley Yelnats was printed.

Chapter 48

Stanley’s lawyer’s name is Ms. Morengo and the man with her is the A. G., the Attorney General. Ms. Morengo told Stanley that he can leave freely. Stanley refused to leave without Hector. Ms. Morengo demanded to see Hector’s records but because Mr. Pendanski has erased them all, they couldn’t be found. Ms. Morengo took Hector and Stanley and they left.

Chapter 49

Now the narrator related how yellow-spotted lizards never appeared in Green Lake until after the lake dried up. One hundred and ten years ago people used to hunt rattlesnakes in the desert and they knew there were also lizards there. Sam gave rattlesnake hunters his onion juice to drink because lizards won’t bite people with onion blood. That’s because they didn’t bite Zero and Stanley. Back in the present day, Ms. Morengo showed Stanley and Zero the cure for foot odor that Stanley’s father has invented few days ago. It smells like peaches. Ms. Morengo told Stanley that the sneakers were stolen at 3:15 pm and that the boy of his school Derrick Dunne said that at 3:20 Stanley was still fishing his notebook from the toilet in the boy’s bathroom. This proved that Stanley didn’t steal the sneakers. Zero then said that he was the one to steal them. For the first time in over 100 years, it rained at Camp Green Lake.

Chapter 50

Stanley’s father invented his never working cure for foot odor the day after the great-great-grandson of Elya Yelnats carried the great-great-great-grandson of Madame Zeroni up the mountain. Camp Green Lake was closed. The camp would soon be a Girl Scout camp. The suitcase contained some jewels and many valuable deeds and stocks. Stanley and Hector each received almost a million dollars from these finds. Stanley bought his family a house and Hector hires a private investigator to find his mother again. The narrator says that although the reader is sure to have more questions, a scene at the Yelnat’s house will best explain Stanley and Hector’s situation. Stanley and Hector watched a commercial in which Clyde Livingston advertises sploosh, Stanley’s father’s cure for foot odor. Clyde Livingston was at Stanley’s house in person, watching the commercial as well. Hector sat with a woman who looked just like him. She sang him the same song that Madame Zeroni taught Elya Yelnats.

Louis Sachar

Louis Sachar was born on 20 March 1954 in East Meadow, New York. In 1976, he went to the University of California, where he studied economics. During university he started to write children’s books. After graduation he worked in a sweater warehouse in Connecticut and wrote at night. After he was fired from that job he moved on to law school. In his first week of study, Sideways Stories from Wayside was published. After completing his studies in 1980 he became a part-time lawyer but was compelled to concentrate on his writing full-time.

Now he lives in Austin, Texas, where he writes and plays quite a lot of bridge. His novel Holes has sold over 8 million copies worldwide and has been made into a movie of the same name by Disney. Louis is the recipient of many of the world’s most prestigious book prizes, including the National Book Award and the Newbery Award. Holes was also selected as the first Liverpool City Read title and won the Sheffield Book Award in the UK.

My opinion

I enjoyed reading this book very much and I would recommend it to all my friends, because it’s one of the books I really liked to read. This book tells a beautiful story about friendship and magic, which doesn’t start very great, but ends very nice and lucky. Also the movie is very famous and certainly beautiful.

© Athina Kostner

 

End of the Academic year: 2ndA

I asked my students of the 2ndA to write an essay on our two years together. I am publishing here some of the most meaningful comments. 

Anny Ballardini

During these two years I’ve learned a lot.

During the first year I learned a lot of grammar. I already knew some of the grammar rules that we did but I didn’t know when we had to use a certain tense or quantifier.

By learning in a more specific way , I had the chance to talk better, without making, quite, any mistakes.

I learned some literature, too. When we had to go to Rome, we studied Caravaggio and that really helped me because I could recognize some paintings and I knew what they represented.

Reading “Frankenstein” and “The Hobbit” in English made me realize how beautiful reading a classic book in its original language is. Reading these books and learning about famous people, like Benjamin Franklin, during the English class, made me realize how beautiful it is to study a culture.

I already loved English but I didn’t know the value of knowing it.

When we went on our school trip in Bournemouth, I was so happy to speak with English people but not just because I love the language, but because they could understand me. I could talk to them without the need to stop  because I didn’t know how to use a tense.

Grammar can be boring but it helps you, it has helped me reach my goal.

In these two years I understood that it was really important to know the culture of a language, its history.

In the English class I realized, that if I study hard, I can get to my goal and set another one, just higher.

Since middle-school I have wanted to speak English fluently and thanks to all the grammar that we did in the English class, I did it. I will always be thankful for this.

© Mirna Vezzali

When I first arrived in Italy two years ago and started to attend this school, English was the language that I could best speak at. It has always been my favorite foreign language and fortunately the one that I have been studying in-depth in Albania. When I started to live here in Italy, I had to dedicate a lot of time to the Italian language as I couldn’t speak fluently and initially I had difficulties to understand properly or entirely the didactic Italian lessons. So, my deep dedication in the Italian, made me have fear that I wouldn’t have the same quantity of time to dedicate to my favorite language and use it also outside school as I used to do in Albania. Fortunately, even though I couldn’t speak in English for a lot of time out of school, my fear of my progress in English is these two years, has disappeared. The English school lesson in this two years period has helped me a lot to strengthen all the grammar rules, not only to learn and repeat theory, but also by putting into practice all these rules and by being continually corrected by the teacher in my spoken mistakes, besides the ones in writing.

      The lessons have been organized in a very interactive way. We have always developed new and very interesting activities in class like : discussions on different topics; presentations; the analysis of documentaries about historical figures or events, together with plenty of other topics. This has enriched a lot not only my English personal vocabulary, but also my personal cultural knowledge in different fields of life. These two years have helped me to develop my self-confidence when I speak in English, and consequently become much more fluent.

     So, in few words, these two years were a really beautiful experience for me , being always immersed in the English world during each English-class and I’m really glad that this experience was concluded in the best way with the beautiful trip to England which will be unforgettable for me.

( C ) RAFAELA ISUFI

These two years were really full of information (written without the “s”) because I learned a lot of things, between grammar rules and new topics… I have to say that my English level was low when I first came here, and now the quality of my spoken English is better. During the first year I studied more, and I was always concentrated on the school; these last months I left the school go where the wind blew, and as the register shows, I received a beautiful 4…

I can say “thank you” to the teacher, because she really helped me to increase my English, even if I have to work still a lot to become better. Apart form this I’m happy to have worked and learned a lot, and I’m sure that this test will be full of mistakes, because I’m like this, I always make errors… Thank you!

© Alex Aufderklamm

When I came to high school I was already able to read and speak in English, but my grammar knowledge was very limited. Since the beginning of past school year I have studied grammar and I realized how important it is, not only to correct writing and speaking, but also to understand the structure of the English language.

In these two years we have followed our grammar course book which particularly focuses on the employment of the time tenses. English grammar isn’t considered too difficult, but the right use of the tenses is fundamental. Thanks to the variety of them and the little differences in meaning we can explain exactly what we intend to say, what may be more difficult for those who learned English from watching films.

We didn’t do a lot of writing in class during our lessons. Instead we learned this out of the summaries we did of a book we read and our teacher corrected. We did many speaking and oral exercises all together in class which improved a lot our pronunciation. We learned to speak more fluently and to express ourselves correctly. This is fundamental in learning a language. Probably some us us might study English at university, but all of us will have to use their speaking skills later in life. Speaking is so important and everybody needs these skills; good writing and reading can be studied more detailed later by interested students. Trough the books we had to read and summarize we improved our reading skills and at the same time we have augmented our vocabulary, without too many efforts.

Now sometimes I read short articles or watch English documentaries and every time I’m impressed by how much I understand and how familiar this language has become to me.

© Jenny Kostner   II A

We have already spent two years together. I think I have learned a lot in this first two-year-period of high school. We have had a lot of discussion in class, read some books and did a lot of exercises. I think the fact of reading entire books has enriched me a lot . It was a completely new experience for me, but I enjoyed it very much, even if I usually don’t love reading. I gained a lot of new vocabulary and could analyze different kinds of writing. A part from this, it was also very helpful for my writing, indeed I could use the new words and memorize them better, by summarizing the chapters. By reading books, having discussions about common themes and doing exercises, I was able to learn without noticing. I think all this has improved me not only as a student, but also as a person. My “culture” has increased and I didn’t really do it on purpose. I didn’t really sit down to start learning. This was what I liked the most: I could learn every day in class. I obviously had some difficulties, because logically it is impossible to learn a language without efforts and all the grammar rules. Fortunately I have had good English teachers in middle-school, who gave me the basis for my English, that I managed to study better during this period. The grammar rules that we learned were much more specific and helped me a lot. It is a success for me, because now I’m able to speak and understand people without having too many problems. This two-year-period of high school has been a positive experience for me.

© Celine Lantschner

This first two-year-period of high school has brought many changes to my life. I think that in this short period of time I have grown up as a person, my mind has developed thanks to the help of my teachers and new experiences. I’ve learned much from every teacher and everyone has given me something that I’ll take with me in my life journey.

In English I’ve learned many new things, not only about grammar, which I studied by heart, but also general information about history, literature and contemporary arts and technology. Thanks to our American English teacher I have enjoyed listening to the little speeches she did in class, and by listening I’ve learned a very good pronunciation. In these two years my vocabulary has been enriched with a lot of words and synonyms that are very helpful in writing a good essay. The lessons we had were sometimes funny and easy-going, because we talked a lot about interesting things and without making too much effort we learned and understood many different things. Personally I think that after these two years I have a good overview of the English-world.

English has been one of my favorite languages since I started studying it at the elementary school. It was never very difficult for me to study this foreign language, and when I had to do some efforts, I did them happily. After this two-years-period and the trip to Bournemouth I think that I understood the importance of this language, being it the language spoken in the entire world. All the efforts I put in the learning of this language have been paid back. The English language is a very valuable personal baggage that I’ll take with me forever. I hope my English studies will be helpful in my future life and that I’ll have the possibility to go on speaking English.

© Chiara Bernardi

 

End of the Academic Year: 1st Class

I asked my 1st class students to write a short essay on “What I have learned this academic year in English: comparing my expectations with my results.” I chose some of the most meaningful writings to share here with everybody. Congratulations to my 1^st class students, it has been my pleasure to spend so much time with you!

© Anny Ballardini

This was the first year for me in this school. At the other schools I was, I didn’t have good English teachers, they were not mother tongue. Because of that, I didn’t learn English very well. But I want to have a good English because I know that this is an important language.

My expectations for this year, where very high. I hoped that I would have a good teacher, who could speak a good English. Now I’m happy; my teacher speaks always English with me and with my class. I have to thank her because I’ve learned a lot. At the beginning of this academic year, I was bad at this language, but I put a lot of commitment in studying and now I can see the results.

A few days ago, some American friends of a friend came to Italy and we had a nice time together, we spoke a lot and I noticed that it wasn’t so difficult for me. I could explain many things about the history of my town and about the flowers of the botanic garden.

I was very happy, they also asked me to go to Tennessee one day, where they live.

I was surprised of my English, once I couldn’t speak one entire minute in English, without stopping. Now I can and I am very happy and proud of this. I did a good progress.

I am also very happy because I know that this school will give me a good basis in languages., so I’ll be able to travel around the world. I would like to live in the United States, so I have to learn English very well. If I continue studying as I have done this year, I will have good results and I will be able to go living in the U.S.

I can see my progress in English because when I am watching English movies or videos, I can understand the biggest part of what the actors say. I often watch the videos of an American man, who teaches how to play ukulele. Thanks to my English I can understand what to do.

Once I couldn’t understand anything.

This makes me so happy.

 

© SARA FERIGO

I have studied English since the 3^rd elementary class and I have always loved this language. Last year I already knew a good English, but I hoped that I would become better this year.

I learned a lot of new things, especially in grammar. After this year it seems to me I have more confidence with the English grammar rules. Another thing that makes me very proud, is that I have learned a lot of interesting topics and now I can also explain them to other people.

If I compare my expectations with my results now, I have to say that I never thought that I would learn so much in just one academic year at the Marcelline School.

As soon as I arrived at this school I thought that I would study only from the book, but it was not so: we did a lot of different things like projects, a movie and some essays.

Last year I never did an essay, so I was very surprised with my results. I can also say that it helped me very much to summarize a book after reading it.

Another thing that helped me to learn a better English, was doing research, like that one about my personal inspiration. With this I had the opportunity to learn a lot of new words. We learned also a lot of things about famous people, like Frida Kahlo and Alfred Hitchkock. These where the most interesting things lessons, because I love to learn new things about foreign or famous people.

Comparing all these things with those that I learned last year, I am very proud that I have studied so many new things that I will also need in the rest of my life. I am also very happy and proud of my results. In the past I never thought that I would speak in English so easily. I know that I have to learn and to study more English to become even better, but t the moment I am proud of my English-level.

I have learned a lot of new things, and I am very happy I have chosen this school; in another school, maybe I would not learn so much.

In conclusion I am happy with my marks and I am surprised that I have learned more than what I have expected.

 

© ANNA COSTA

 

Now we are almost at the end of may, this means, that the school-year is almost over. I’m really glad to finish this, at the beginning, very hard year, and not only in English, I have reached very good results.

I must say, that at the beginning my expectations for this school and especially for the languages, that are learned here, were very high, because this is a very good school. I really like the teachers and I think that in English, compared with the beginning, my level has raised a lot.

I love the way we learn English here: from making a video of our town, to writing a text, to reading different books or doing exercises, we do really everything. I must say that it was never really hard for me to learn English or any other languages, but sometimes I asked myself :” how can I master this?” But only by learning hard, it has brought me good results. I think, that I did a big progress from the beginning of the year in English, especially in writing. Such a progress was really unexpected. This is a school with a quite high level, with very good teachers and very intelligent students. Because of this, before I joined this school, my expectations were even higher, perhaps too high. I never thought that I was going to have these good results, but I also never thought that my English level would improve that much. For example, reading a book in English, helped me a lot, also studying again the irregular verbs helped me.

I finish this year being happy, speaking better in English and having good expectations for the next year.

© Evamaria Mayr

Anna Costa and Heaven is Paved with Oreos

Anna Costa and Heaven is Paved with Oreos

Heaven is paved with Oreos

Catherine Gilbert Murdock

This is a journal for Sarah, from her grandmother Z where she has to write all her marvelous adventures…

MY JOURNAL

Wednesday, June 12:

On the first page of Sarah’s new journal, she wrote about her first “adventure”: she had to make sure that her best friend, Curtis, didn’t throw up, because he was very shy.

There was a graduation, where Curti’s brother talked about his terrible injury. In the meantime, Curtis had to stand next to his brother onstage and he looked very queasy. So, she tried to give him moral support. After that they gave out diplomas and Sarah talked a little bit with her best friend, trying to make him feel better.

Later she met her mom and her little brother Paul and they went back home, where they ate pizza with her father.

She wrote also that Z would come the next day, so that’s why she was writing about this little adventure…

Thursday, June 13:

On this day Sarah and Curtis wanted to go work on Boris. Previously, she told about how she and Curtis became best friends:

At first she didn’t speak so much with Curtis, but one day she saw a little dead bird on the floor. She stared at it and the other guys laughed at her. Suddenly Curtis came and told them, that they should stop. Given that Curtis was taller than the others, they instantly stopped to laugh and went away. Later Sarah went in class and her new friend buried the little bird.

A few weeks later Sarah and Curtis became partners for a big project on the scientific elements and because it was so good, they did also something for the science fair, where they became third in the state.

Now they were preparing for the high school state science fair a new project, about a calf, that was born dead. That is why they had to meet in the library…

Thursday, June 13 – LATER (1&2):

Curtis and Sarah worked at the Red Bend Library. There, they spent two hours discussing about the themes for their science project.

When they were finished, Curtis accompanied Sarah back home, until they arrived at Sarah’s home, where they saw Curtis’s sister’s car and also Paul: Paul’s facial expression was miserable, because he hated D.J. and he had to go with her to the guitar lessons, but at the end they found a simple solution…

In the evening Sarah and Paul’s grandmother Z came for dinner. She told about her trip to Rome, to St. Peter’s Square: she wanted to visit all seven pilgrimages, but she failed. For this reason she wanted to go back another time but this time she would take also her granddaughter Sarah.

Only now Sarah understood why she got this journal and she became so excited, as she had never been before.

 

 

Friday, June 14:

Today Sarah went to Curtis’s baseball play. She was very happy to see at the game, until   unfortunately she saw there Emily too. Emily attended all the games with big posters for Curtis and she also cheered a lot. Suddenly Emily went to Sarah and asked her why she didn’t cheer, if she was Curtis girlfriend, and at this point, Sarah explained her relation with Curtis:

When Sarah and Curtis were in seventh grade, they invented the Brilliant Outflanking Strategy: When they did their project everybody teased them, because they said, that Sarah and Curtis were boyfriend and girlfriend. Of course that wasn’t true, but one day, they went together to a pic-nic and suddenly a little girl asked them if they had a relationship. At first they said NO, but Sarah had a fantastic idea: the 3^rd time that the little girl asked the same question, Sarah said YES and the girl went away. So they discovered that, if Sarah and Curtis said that they are in a relationship, nobody cares…

Everybody believed it, even if it wasn’t true, except for Emily… That’s the reason why Emily commented…

After this, Sarah bought an ice cream with Curtis and told him about Rome.

Monday, June 17 – June 17 LATER

This morning, D.J. drove Paul and Sarah to Prophetstown, where Paul took music lessons and Sarah took out Z’s dog. On the way Sarah told D.J. about her trip to Rome and something about Z.

Later Sarah went to her grandmother’s apartment and ate lots of Oreos, because she and Z loved those biscuits dipped into milk.

Later she went to walk with the dog Jack Russell George.

After this promenade Sarah went back home with D.J. and whilst D.J. was driving, Sarah told her the story about her grandma’s name Z:

Z had Sarah’s dad when she was eighteen years old, in 1960. However, the problem was, that in those years a lot of people didn’t like girls having babies when they weren’t married. Z had to leave college, let her son with her parents in Two Geese and moved to California. Sarah’s dad grew up with his uncles and aunts and Z changed her name from Alice Zorn to Azalea Zorn, but everyone called her Z. The strangest thing is, that Z never said who’s the real dad of her child was. They supposed, that it was a famous person, because Z wanted his son to have many possibilities to become famous.

Friday, June 21:

On the way to Prophetstown D.J. asked if Paul would go to Rome too, but he said no, and listened to music. Later Sarah narrated again something about Z and on the ride back to Red Bend, D.J. told something about her boyfriend.

Saturday, June 22- Sunday, June 23 – Monday, June 24:

Z came to dinner and brought Chinese food, fortune cookies and later the whole family discussed about the trip to Rome. At the end they decided that Sarah would go to Rome and instantly she called Curtis and told him about this news. He didn’t sound good at all and Sarah became sad because of this.

The next day, Sarah told D.J. about the decision and she found it fantastic, because for her it was a very good possibility to become smarter.

Tuesday, June 25 – Saturday, June 29 – June 29 LATER:

Curtis had a game, but his mood was tight and Sarah couldn’t understand why… She wished, there was someone she could talk about. At first she thought of Z, but she wasn’t good at talking about other people, because she compared everything with the 1960s and she saw not Sarah as Sarah, but Sarah as herself.

On Saturday Sarah went shopping with her mother for the trip. Her mom wanted to get comfortable shoes so that Sarah could walk a lot. The shoes were awful..

In the evening Curtis went to Sarah, but they didn’t have any fun… Sarah thought about a lot of things and was very aloof. He went away, without saying anything, because he went to a friend’s house…

Monday, July 1 – Saturday, July 6 – Tuesday, July 9:

On Monday Sarah went to a basketball game of D.J. with Z. Both cheered a lot for D.J. and determined that she had also many other fans.

On Saturday Sarah was highly sad, because she had broken up with Boris, even if they weren’t actual girlfriend an boyfriend. Since Curtis did not want a fake girlfriend anymore and he also hated to lie about this.

On Tuesday Sarah recounted Z, about breaking up with Curtis, but she took it calmly. Also because the next day, they would begin their adventure and go to Rome. They had to think about other things than men.

JOURNAL #2:

Wednesday, July 10:

Z and Sarah were in the plane to Chicago. They were both very excited for Rome and also because they had an exceedingly tight connection to the plane to Rome. Another agitating thing was that, Sarah had a new journal. The old one, was already half- filled and she wouldn’t carry around memories of Curtis.

Later, Sarah had good news: they didn’t miss the plane to Rome. Z and she didn’t sit together: Sarah sat next to a real nun and Z next to a man. Their supper was very nice and afterward, they slept…

Thursday, July 11:

Sarah and Z were in ROME! They landed at an airport and took the train from the airport to the centre of Rome. Afterward they went in a little cafe and called Sarah’s mom to tell her, that they landed safety and then they walked to their hotel. As soon as they had unpacked their clothes they explored the Eternal City.

In the late afternoon, they sat in another cafe and ate some “gelato”, ice cream, and continued their walk. The first thing they visited, was the Pantheon, an old Roman temple with columns in front that were huge. Then Z took Sarah, to see an elephant. Of course it wasn’t real, it was only a statue, and on its back it had an obelisk.

After the Pantheon, they visited a really old part of Rome, the Forum, which is a bunch of rocks and tourists.

Saturday, July 12:

Finally, the pilgrimage began! Sarah and Z went to St. Peter’s, the most important church of their seven pilgrimage churches.

As soon as Sarah and Z were at St. Peter’s, they had to stand in a line for a long time. When they got inside Z kept following the guides who spoke English, so that they could learn even more.

After this visit, both went to a cafe and drank cappuccino. Later they continued their pilgrimage and stood in another long line to get on the top of the church. Only there Sarah could appreciate how big St. Peter’s really was! To get on the top, they had to climb 300 steps and some of them were super twisty and narrow. Up in the dome they were close enough to see the mosaics and on the roof Sarah bought also a postcard for D.J.

Saturday, July 13:

By then Z and Sarah were SUPER PILGRIMS, because they had visited FOUR churches:

The first church, they visited, was Santa Maria Maggiore church, Jesus’s mother, Mary’s church.   An interesting thing was that Bernini was buried inside and the ceiling was made of the first gold the Spaniards brought back from America. St. Peter’s and the Santa Maria Maggiore churches were both in the Vatican.

For Sarah, the inside of the Maggiore church was even more beautiful than the St. Peter’s, because it was made of sheep mosaics.

The second church, was St. Helena’s. Sarah didn’t tell many things about this church and later they moved into church number three. Sarah really didn’t like this church, because it was a little bit scary: The church did have the heads of St. Peters and St. John, the Evangelist in silver jars.

Finally they went to the fourth and last church: San Paolo Fuori le Mura. That church was so far, that they had to take the subway. The son of St. Helena built this church to honour St. Paul, because it was where St. Paul was buried. Then, in 1823, a workman accidentally burned the building down. It was a huge tragedy. Inside, there wasn’t anyone, but they heard someone sing: they were pilgrims, who had travelled to this church because they had faith that St. Paul could help them.

After this long pilgrimage, they went to a little restaurant for supper and at the end of the day Sarah and Z returned to the hotel and went to bed.

Sunday, July 14:

On this day Z turned 64 years old and Sarah sang Happy Birthday and gave her a card. It was also the birthday of France. At breakfast the hotel restaurant was decorated with little French flags and the waiters sang “When I’m sixty-four” for Z. She was very pleased and cried. After breakfast Z took a bath and they visited church number five and the sixth church: San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura. Like the St. Paul’s, also this one was outside the old Roman walls, which was very important to remember. San Lorenzo was a Christian back in Rome who was grilled to death. The church was where he was buried and outside there was also a golden statue that showed how he died. Sarah meant, that this church had the best mosaic that Sarah had seen yet. It was a picture of the man who built San Lorenzo, who was holding a model of the church in his hand.

Later, they visited another church, that wasn’t part of the real pilgrimage: Santa Maria del Popolo. Inside Sarah saw lots of skulls and also a huge full marble skeleton, that was built into the wall. While Sarah walked around the church, Z was praying.

Afterward they went to the Spanish Steps, where they stopped at a minimarket and bought something to eat and to drink. Z bought also some cigarettes and smoked part of one.

Monday, July 15:

That morning, Sarah went to have breakfast alone and later they went to church number seven. Then their pilgrimage would be completed. That church was called San Sebastiano Fuori le Mura and it was built on top of catacombs. Lots of common people were buried there, like the early popes and a soldier named Sebastiano, from whom this church took its name.

 

LATER:

Sarah and Z had not left their hotel! It was lunch time and Z was still in bed! Z kept saying that she would get up soon, but she didn’t. Sarah was extremely sad about this, so she went down to the woman at the front desk and asked which bus she had to take if she wanted to get to the catacombs. Then she went again to Z and thought what she could do to help her grandma. She wanted to call her mom or D.J. but at the end, she found a better solution: Sarah took some of Z’s European money and went outside.

She bought some pizza for lunch and discovered a very nice store, with which one she fell in love. It was a paper shop, with many different paper types and journals. After this little trip, Sarah went back to Z and brought her some pizza. They talked a little bit and at the end they went to bed.

Tuesday, July 16:

In the morning, they had breakfast and in forenoon they didn’t go to San Sebastiano. Instead of visiting the last church, they went again to the paper store, where Sarah bought some nice presents and Z took a journal and a very expensive pen for herself.

LATER:

They didn’t go to Sebastiano at all and so they wouldn’t become official pilgrims. They wouldn’t even get to see the catacombs! Darn it!

In the morning, they went to this store and as soon as they picked out the presents, Z said that she wasn’t up for going to the last church. She said that she wasn’t going to make it to the Oreos, what means that she didn’t think she was going to heaven.

In the last pages Sarah forgot to mention the story about the fortune cookies: In Z’s cookie, there was written “Hell is paved with good intentions” and Z transformed it in “Heaven is paved with Oreos”, because she loved Oreos so much.

Instead of that, Sarah went again to the “Basilicata di Santa Maria del Popolo”, to watch the amazing painting of St.-Paul-falling-off-his-horse. While Sarah was in the church and looked at this painting, Z stood outside and looked at the people.

Wednesday, July 17:

Sarah and Z were on the plane while she wrote this entry. They had to wake up extremely early and walked to the train station. Then they flew to Chicago, transferred, and took the other plane to Minneapolis, were Sarah’s mom picked them up. While they were on the plane Z wrote something in her journal…

Once they were in the car with Sarah’s mom and Paul they had to recount all the adventures and they dropped Z off in front of her apartment. Z gave Sarah the journal and a kiss and she went into her house.

Thursday, July 18:

On this day, Sarah got up very late and had a simple American breakfast. Later, she put Z’s notebook under her bed and maybe she wouldn’t even have read it…

Z’s notebook – for Sarah and Paul:

Z wrote this letter for her grandchildren, because they needed to understand from where they came. She never thought and talked so much about this, but now she had to be honest to herself and all the people around her.

Z was born in Two Geese, Wisconsin, a very small town, that was even smaller in 1949. Her mom Ann, had her, Johnny and Janie and Ruthie and then eight years later little Tommy. So Z was like a maid, a second mother. She had to do everything in the household, but she didn’t want to get married and have children like everyone. She wanted to know what she wanted first. Then she saw the Beatles, and discovered folk music, rock and roll and Motown. She couldn’t say if it was the music or herself, but she couldn’t stay in Two Geese, she had to get out.

Later she won a scholarship and finally left Two Geese for a fancy East Coast women’s college. The summer after her freshman year, a professor offered a tour of Italy. She would take part anyway!

On the trip, they visited Florence and Venice and Siena. Their first day in Rome, they went to all the Classic sights and the next day they were free. The girls went from Café to Café, drank some wine and of course didn’t go to Sebastiano. They vowed to finish the next day.

Also the next day, they couldn’t. A student made a tour with them in some churches. It was July 14, Bastille Day, Z’s birthday.

Then they went to Santa Maria del Popolo and as soon as they were in front of The Conversation of St. Paul, Z began to cry. Of course Paolo, the student, noticed it and took her aside to ask her how she was. They began to chat about music and Z found out that he also liked the Beatles and asked him if he has a Record player to play the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. He didn’t… but he could sing the song to her later, in the evening.

They were under strict curfews and so the girls helped Z to sneak out. Paolo said he would meet her in the evening on the Spanish Steps, and he did. Everything seemed like a fairy tale…

They were convinced they were in love and sang “When I am sixty-four” twelve times. Paolo and Z made a pact that they would be together when they turned sixty-four. They promised each other they would meet on the Spanish Steps on the evening of Z’s sixty-fourth birthday.

Well, on each day, Z truly didn’t think she could get pregnant, and didn’t pay so much attention…She snuck back to her hotel at 5.00 am and had to tell everything to her six friends.

She didn’t see Paolo again, and some days later they left and flew back to New York. Z spent the rest of the summer taking some odd jobs and whenever she had the possibility she went to some clubs. She never saw Bob Dylan, but she met many other brilliant stars. In fall she returned to college and her own brother Johnny went to the war in Vietnam. He was drafted in the U.S. Army. Z tried to help him flee, but she had her own problems: she was definitely pregnant and the college kicked her out immediately…

Although, she really didn’t want to get back, she returned to Two Geese and the judgment from the other people was terrible. She survived only thanks to Grandma Ann.

All the time, Z thought about giving her baby up to adoption, because she wanted to become an artist… She and Paolo wrote many letters, but she wouldn’t let him know about the baby; so she asked him, if he wanted to have a family. Her heart broke, as soon as he said that he wanted many years of freedom, before that to happen. After a while they stopped writing and then Z lost his address.

Then Johnny died. He had a terrible car accident in an army base. That’s when Grandma Ann said she wanted Z’s baby. She wanted a child to substitute the child she’d lost. Z named the baby Robert Rimmerman Zorn. If people wanted to think that it was Bob Marley’s son, that was fine for her.

She left Two Geese as soon as she could and changed her name to Azalea Zorn. Suddenly, when Grandma Ann got sick, she came back to Wisconsin to look out for her and Robert.

Sarah and Paul knew that Paolo didn’t come to the Spanish Steps on her sixty-fourth birthday, but she also never thought he would. As Z planned the trip, she didn’t want to go alone, but she also didn’t know whom she should take to Rome. At first she wanted to go with Robert, but he had to work and then she had the idea to take her granddaughter.

 

As soon as she understood, that Paolo wouldn’t come she fell apart and now she was extremely sorry about this… She only wanted everyone to be happy…

Grandmother Z

IL GIORNALE:

Friday, July 19:

Sarah began using her new journal, that one she had bought in Rome.

She read Z’s journal, even if it was hard for her and now she was really furious with Z. She also wrote the reasons, why she was furious:

1. Z said she would go back to Rome to reconnect with God, but really she wanted to reconnect with Paolo.
2. Paolo didn’t show up. But what if he did? He would have been shocked to see his granddaughter. Z could have given him a heart attack! She should at least have warned him and also Sarah.
3. Paolo didn’t come. Why did she tell Sarah all the story then? Now Sarah could only think about her grandfather and all her beautiful Italian cousins. She wanted to meet them, and she could not.
4. Z, was the reason why they stopped writing letters. Paolo wanted to keep on writing, but she stopped. She also never told him, she had a baby. She only “hinted” at it. Z would have never known his reaction, because she never told him about his son. Perhaps, he would have moved closer to her…Nobody knew.
5. What about Sarah’s dad? Of course he knew about Paolo, or he wouldn’t have named her brother Paul.
6. What would Sarah’s mom say, if she found out that Z, wanted go to Rome only to see Paolo again? She would freak out, like she did when she found out that Sarah bought some pizza alone.
7. Sarah was still mad, because they didn’t see all the churches…

Even, if Sarah didn’t want to see Z or go to Prophetstown, she had to. Paul didn’t want to go there alone with D.J.

The ride was terrible: D.J. didn’t say anything. Sarah wanted to ask her something about Curtis, but she didn’t have the courage.

The back ride wasn’t better; D.J. said only one thing as she was pulling her car onto Sarah’s street: She and Brian had broken up, that’s why she was so mad. And then she said that she was sorry about Curtis, because Sarah and he really liked each other.

Only at that point Sarah understood that she wanted Curtis as a boyfriend and not only as a friend and she felt bad about this, because in fact she behaved like Z with Paolo.

Monday, July 22 – Friday, July 26:

D.J. and Curtis were both away at tournaments all week and so Sarah’s mom had to drive her and Paul to Prophetstown.

On Friday both were still gone. Her mom was still irked by her bad mood and so she was happy that her dad had to work so she didn’t have to talk with him about Paolo or about Z. Eke this day, Sarah’s mom had to drive her children to Prophetstown. On the ride they didn’t say anything and as soon as they arrived they did the usual activities. During the walk with Jack Russell George, she thought about the giornale that she wanted to give Curtis.

 

Monday, July 29:

On this day D.J. came back, Curtis didn’t. Sarah was relieved that she could drive again with D.J.to Prophetstown. On the ride, Sarah recounted her the story about Z and Paolo and asked for advice. D.J. explained her, that the only way to solve this, was to tell her father the truth. Even if it wasn’t easy.

On the way back home Sarah and D.J. talked all the time; about Curtis. Sarah’s biggest fear, was that Curtis wanted only Emily. But D.J. assured her, that he didn’t want anything from her. Sarah’s duty, was now to tell Cutis the truth, because he was not going to talk to her, that was clear.

Wednesday, July 31:

The night before Sarah asked her dad if he wanted to have ice cream with her, but he didn’t have enough time. The next night, the two went to Jorgensens’ for some ice cream and talked about Z and Paolo.

At the end of the conversation, Sarah knew that also her father knew only that Paolo was his father and not more. She also found out that they called Paul Paul without any intention. Well, universe works in mysterious ways.

After this long discussion, Sarah asked the most important question: “Was Z a good mom?”

He answered, that she was pretty and everything, but she was never at home… she was like an eighteen years old grandma.

Thursday, August 1:

Sarah went to the park, at a picnic table and suddenly D.J. came. Two other girls were with her: Amber and Dale. Together they had ice cream and talked.

That night Mom, Dad, Paul and Sarah had a big talk about the common story. Sarah had to recount all about the pilgrimage, with all the details and the truth. At the end of the conversation, Sarah asked another question to her mom: “Do you like Z?”. Her mom obviously liked her and was also a bit jealous about her…

Friday, August 2 – Saturday, August 3 – Sunday, August 4 – Monday, August 5:

Sarah went to Prophetstown again, with D.J. and they spoke about Two Lady Pilgrims, when Paul suddenly asked if D.J. and his sister wanted to go at the Dog Days of Prophetstown, where he would have a show.

In Prophetstown, Sarah saw Z and as soon as she could, Sarah concluded the conversation.

On Saturday Sarah wrote a little reflection about Emily in her journal and figured out three key facts about her:

1. Emily was an extremely good girlfriend, but she could not tell other people how they had to be.
2. Sarah was extremely sure that Emily would never go to Rome.
3. Emily was not D.J. Schwenk’s friend.

Curtis came home on Sunday. He had a baseball game that afternoon and Sarah wen, too. Of course Emily was there, too, with other girls and cheered like every time. After the game Curtis went to Sarah and together they went to have ice cream.

On Monday D.J. actually asked Sarah about Curtis and Sarah told her that things were looking up… Like on Friday, they talked about the show and the surprise-song for Z.

 

Sunday, August 11:

Sunday was the day of the DOG DAYS OF PROPHETSTOWNT! That week was soooo crazy: they had to prepare so many things for that show and everything was ready for it.

Sarah spent all her time at the party with Curtis and she wondered why D.J. kissed Brian, when they had broken up not that long time ago…But that wasn’t so important for her.

After a while Sarah decided to tell Curtis the truth about everything: She finally found the courage and told him that she wanted to be his girlfriend and he agreed, too! Later Paul was on stage and did his performance. It was amazing! He had become such a good guitar player and singer. No one expected this about him. A little time later, Curtis went to get some ice cream and brought Sarah a new flavour: vanilla cream with Oreos… She loved it.

And then, the big moment came: Paul played a song especially for Z. Fortunately it wasn’t “When I’m sixty-four”, but another song remixed by Paul only for his grandma. It was a sad and slowly song so everyone began to dance. Even Sarah danced with Curtis and put her forehead on his T-shirt. It was one of the most beautiful moments for the two and as soon as the song finished, both danced along…

COMMENT:

I have to say, that I have never seen this book before, but only the title made me curious, so I started to read it… At first it was a bit boring, but then it became more and more interesting.

It isn’t the kind of book I normally read, but I enjoyed it, because in the whole story, there was another story about the past.

I recommend this book especially to girls, because it is a kind of love story…and it isn’t so difficult to read.

Catherin Gilbert Murdock was born in Charleston, South Carolina and grew up in small-town Connecticut, on a tiny farm. The family lived in the country with no neighbors and had a very old TV. Consequently, they all read a lot.

Her father was a chemical engineer and her mother a nurse. Her sister Liz, is now a very famous writer and the author of Eat, Pray, Love and many other books.

Her first book was Dairy Queen, a novel for young adults, that has also a sequel.

Now, she lives in Philadelphia with her husband and children.

Anna Costa

Beatrice Baldotto and The Hobbit by Tolkien

Beatrice Baldotto and The Hobbit by Tolkien

I

Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit. The hobbit is a creature that is tall half human, he has no beard and wears no shoes because of his natural tough feet. Anyway, Bilbo lived in a simple and pretty cave. It was full of rooms and, more important, full of food, because a hobbit could eat more than three times a day. One morning Bilbo was sitting on a chair, and while he was smoking his pipe he saw a wizard that was coming closer to his house. He hailed him: his name was Gandalf. Gandalf started to talk to Bilbo about a great adventure but Mr. Baggins, who was just a placid hobbit, did not want to listen. He invited Gandalf to have some tea the day after only because he did not want to give a bad impression of him-self.

The next day at tea time somebody knocked on the door but it was not Gandalf. It was Dwalin, a dwarf. After Dwalin arrived: Balin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Thorin and finally Gandalf. So the meeting could begin. During the conversation Bilbo understood that all those dwarves were in his house because Gandalf had signed his door with the symbol of the “Burglar that is looking for a job”. He became, without knowing it, the official burglar of the group. He had to start a long trip to find a hidden and secret door together with the others. Bilbo did not want to go, but a part of him, his mother part, wanted to go. In fact he was half Tuc, a family of adventurers. At the end everybody wanted to go to sleep, so they said that they would start their trip on the following morning.

II

When Bilbo woke up nobody was there anymore. The hobbit was half happy, but, like the day before, his Tuc part wished to go with the dwarves. He was washing all the dishes when Gandalf arrived and told him that he was late: all the dwarves were waiting for him at an inn.

He finally arrived at the inn and he saw all his friends that were ready to begin the adventure.

They went through the Lonely Land: nobody lived there. The weather started getting worse and cold. And after a while it started raining cats and dogs. They lost a pony and a great part of the stocks. So they looked for a shelter for the night. Two dwarves tried to light a fire, but then they saw a light and decided to send Bilbo there to check what the light was. In silence the hobbit went up to the hill, and glimpsed three Trolls through the trees. They were full of food and Bilbo wanted to steal the pocket from one of them. So he tried but the pocket screamed (it was a magic one) and the Troll captured him. The three asked him if he was alone and other questions, and Bilbo tried to answer in a way that the troll could not understand where his companions were. At the same time Balin arrived. He was looking for Bilbo and the troll captured him, and all the other dwarves that came after. They began to argue because Gandalf, with his magic, confused them. They hit each other and so the company could escape. They found a door, and with a key that Bilbo had found before they could open it. Inside it was full of food and treasures. They took some stocks and also two swords. They finally ate and slept.

III

The company went on with their trip, but the lands and the territories that they had to go through were getting harder and harder. They were without any stocks and tired. Gandalf told them that at the end of this part of the trip they would be hosted by Elrond (the king of the elves) and by his population. Finally the 16 arrived. They stayed there to rest for two weeks. But when they had to resume their way the king saw the two swords that they had stolen from the troll’s cave and told them that their names were Orcrist and Glamdring. They were magical swords that came from Gondolin. Elrond also read the old rune thanks to the moon’s light. The dwarves, Gandalf and Bilbo left the Land of the Elves.

IV

They went up to the mountains and it was really cold. They were all doing a great effort to go on. One night, unfortunately, there was a terrible storm, so the company looked for a shelter. They found one, but when the rain started to enter their hut they had to find another one. Dori found a cave: they went there, ate and finally could sleep. Bilbo woke up in the middle of the night and saw that some ponies that had disappeared. He didn’t have the time to wake up the others that the ogres kidnapped them. Gandalf was the only one who could escape, and so he did. The ogres took them to their master. But, when the dwarves and Bilbo thought that it was the end, the sword Orcrist (with magic powers) killed the ogre’s master. All the light turned off and the monsters started being scared. Gandalf appeared and fought against some ogres, so Bilbo and his companios could go down into a tunnel. They had to be quick because the ogres -now that their fear had dissolved- were really really angry and wanted to kill them all. Bilbo could not run, and so Dori took him on his shoulders. The ogres arrived but the other sword, Glamdring, fought them. The second time that the ogres reached them they could not escape. One monster grabbed Dori, and Bilbo fell down. He immediately collapsed.

V

Bilbo woke up and it was totally dark. He could not see anything, so he decided to find an exit by moving only with his sense of hearing. When he touched the ground he found a ring. He picked it up.

He continued walking in the dark when suddenly he arrived at a big underground lake. Here he met Gollum, a creature that wanted to eat him. Bilbo thought up a trick to earn time: they played the game of the riddles. By these rules: if Bilbo won Gollum would help him find the exit, but if Bilbo lost Gollum would eat him. At the end Bilbo asked Gollum the question “What’s in my pocket?” but Gollum understood that it was another riddle, he answered wrongly and so he lost. Gollum had a second plan. He went back to his little island where he hid his birthday’s present even if Bilbo was screaming that he had to respect the agreement. Gollum believed that with this present he could take Bilbo by surprise, and then eat him. Bilbo understood that Gollum did not have pacific intentions, and so he started to run. He put his hand in his pocket and, accidentally, he wore the ring. Gollum arrived, Bilbo was terribly scared. But Gollum did not see him. The creature was sure that Bilbo had stolen his present, so he went to the exit to capture him. Bilbo silently followed Gollum and, when they arrived at the exit, it was full of ogres. Gollum spoke with himself and Bilbo understood that the ring had the magic power to make the person who wears it invisible. Bilbo, because of an unexpected bravery, jumped on Gollum’s head and -avoiding the monsters- finally saw freedom.

VI

Bilbo realized that he had passed through the entire mountain and now he was on the “other side”. He also realized that, even if he did not want it, he had to go back and look for his friends. But suddenly he heard the voice of Gandalf that was arguing with Thorin because they had lost Bilbo. The hobbit was still invisible, so he got more closer to them and he took his ring off. Everybody was surprised, and finally they restarted their adventure.

Like the other times the roads were dangerous and insidious. In fact they had to cross a path that was pebbly. They failed, because there was a landslide and they all fell down in a clearing. The company immediately heard some howls that got closer and closer to them. Gandalf screamed to the other to hide themselves up in the trees, because the wolves could not climb them. Dori helped Bilbo before a wolf could bit him. They were not common wolves, they were werwolves. Gandalf understood their language: they were waiting for the ogres to come, because they were allies. Gandalf threw some burned pine cones to the wolves. The company was not the only one who was watching the werwolves from the top. In fact the Lord of the Eagles had noticed the light of the pine cones and became interested in what was happening there. Eagles hated the wolves and the ogres. They helped our friends and took them to their secret shelter. There Gandalf spoke to the Lord and asked him if they could take him back to their way. He accepted.

VII

The day after all the eagles left the company on a enormous rock. Gandalf said to all the dwarves -and Bilbo- that in those lands lived a friend of him, but he was a bit raw and sometimes rude. So the company had to be absolutely kind and polite, if they wanted to get some help. The name of this man (that could also become a bear) was Beorn. He lived with many animals, and ate only honey and crackers, because he respected all the animals and they were like his children. After the story of the company’s adventure Beorn, fascinated by it, decided to help them. The day after all the 16 remained at Beorn’s home and relaxed a bit, but there was no sign of the man. He arrived the next morning and he told to his new friends that, undoubtedly, he had gone to all the places of their story to check if their tale was true. And so it was! He also told them that all the werwolves and the ogres were looking for them, so they could not resume their normal way, they had to go through the Dark Wood. Nothing was healthy to eat or drink there. Also the water was cursed. For this reasons Beorn gave them a water bag to each one, and also crackers and honey. Everybody straddled on a pony, and Beorn warned them: They absolutely did not have to leave the main road. They started their trip and after four days they arrived at the Dark Wood’s border. There they sent back the ponies to Beorn, and Gandalf had to leave them because of some tasks. So the dwarves and the hobbit were alone. Sad and disconsolate they entered the forest.

   VIII

This was the hardest part of their trip since now. In the wood it was always dark, and they would finish soon all the stocks. The forest seemed to be unending. At a certain point the company arrived at a river, and the only way to cross it was by boat, but the boat was on the other side of the river. Fili, who was the youngest dwarf, threw a rope to catch the boat and succeeded. Everybody crossed the river but when it was Bombur’s time a deer came out from the wood and Bombur fell into the cursed water. They caught him in time, but he was the victim of a magic and he could not wake up. They went on, carrying Bombur on their shoulders. They were so tired and in the middle of the way there was an enormous oak. So Bilbo climbed it to see how much they had to walk. What Bilbo did not know was that the tree was in the middle of an hollow, in fact they were not far away from the end of the forest, but the hobbit could only see trees and trees. So he thought that the road was long, and the exit far away from them. They walked for another day, and then, suddenly, Bombur woke up. He lost all the memories about the trip. He did not stop talking about the dream that he had during his sleep: he was at a banquet in the middle of the forest, and he ate like never before. So he started to complain. He, like the others, was terribly hungry. Bad luck was not enough: the next morning the company woke up and it was raining. They went on but near to evening Bombur saw a light in the wood. It was exactly like in his dream. Everybody was too tired and hungry, so they decided to leave the main road and go and see what was there. When they entered in the lightning zone all the elves and the banquet disappeared. They had other three hallucinations like this one. The third time Bilbo collapsed, and when he resumed consciousness he was alone, and trapped in the net of an enormous spider. He fought against him with a little sword that he had found in the troll’s cave at the beginning of the journey. When he was finally free he started looking for his friends. Bilbo found them in his same old conditions: trapped by the spiders. He put the ring on his finger and became invisible. Thanks to this power he threw some rocks to the spiders, so they became angry and left the dwarves in peace. When the spiders were finally defeated Bilbo told the others all the story about the ring. At the end they discovered that Thorin was not there. He was the prisoner of the Wood’s Elves.

IX

The morning after the company was extremely tired and finding a way to escape from the forest was the last of their problems. At a certain point the dwarves and Bilbo heard some noises and they knew that it was the elves but they stayed still where they were and they let the wood’s creatures take them away. But Bilbo, like he had done before, put on his magic ring, so the elves did not know that he was there. The hobbit followed them, and he arrived at the “royal palace”. There all his friends were caged. There was a positive side: Bilbo discovered that also his lost friend Thorin was in a cage. Bilbo stayed there for days thinking of a great plan to free his companions. Studying the habits of the guards and of the elves in general he saw that when a barrel was empty they threw them through a drain that flowed in a river. So Bilbo waited, and a night there was a party and the keeper of the keys of the cages drank too much and he fell a sleep. Bilbo stole the keys and finally fred his friends. Then he told them his plan: they had to enter the barrels. At the beginning they complained a bit but then they understood that it was the only possible solution. When all the dwarves where “packed” Bilbo realized that none could close his barrel. So, at the last moment, he jumped on a barrel before the elves threw them in the drain. The little trip was very insidious but at the end he and the dwarves were free.

X

They arrived at the first stage of the barrel’s trip. Bilbo knew that he could not free the dwarves from the barrels because they were too much and the next morning they had to restart their journey hidden in the casks. And so it was. After another stretch of the river the company finally docked at a wharf. Bilbo immediately freed Thorin, and the dwarf started to complain but then, together, they opened also the other barrels.

As soon as each dwarf was freed they all decided that Thorin should go and speak with the Master of Dales. Since Thorin was an Oakenshield he had been welcomed and thanks to his speaking skills, he got medicaments, food and a house where the company could sleep. After a week and after having been restored they got three ships, ponies and food in order to have the possibility to continue their path.

XI

They arrived at the River Running (from up there you could see the Mountain). From there on they followed the road until the Desolation of Smaug (Smaug was one of the worst dragons in the whole land and this land was desolated: he guarded the precious treasures). Winter came when the squad arrived down on the hill in the Desolation and there a few dwarves looked for the Front Gate. The Gate was closed but nobody knew how to open it. Luckily, the morning after the sunlight appeared and so did a lock. Thorin opened it.

XII

Bilbo was a burglar so he entered first. Entering this castle that was inhabitated by Smaug, Bilbo took his courage and wore the ring. He arrived soon in the dungeon that was full of the most beautiful treasures. There was one problem: Smaug was lying on them asleep…but he seemed to be aware of everything. The hobbit was astonished in front of all that sparkling and he stole a cup, but Smaug felt it and he wasn’t really happy about it. Smaug was bad and evil but also really intelligent, therefore as soon as the burglar returned there he basically confused Bilbo with all his maleficent speeches. Bilbo wasn’t feeling confident anymore.

XIII

Two days passed without knowing where Smaug had flown but the squad decided to enter the castle again and tried to look after the most precious jewel in the world: The Arkenstone, better known as the Heart of the Mountain. Bilbo found it but kept it for himself.

XIV

Smaug flew all the way down to Lake-Town and attacked it, there a terrible battle took place: houses were destroyed, inhabitants died and mess was everywhere. Even if this battle took pain and destruction the dragon was defeated, Bard defeated him. As a symbol of gratitude the ones that survived the attack, wanted him to be the king, but he refused because he wanted to rebuild Dales. Since building the city was not easy the elves decided to help Bard.

XV

Meanwhile a raven flew on the way to the camp where the dwarves were staying, with the intention of announcing them the great news. Then the brave Bard appeared and after some very long talks, Bard declared the Mountain besieged.

XVI

Thorin called something like 500 dwarves from the Iron Hills and the hobbit wanted to stop the fight that would happen shortly. He took the tour from Bombur and wore the ring and then he ran as fast as he could, in order to avoid the inevitable, therefore he took the ring off and had a brief but effective chat with Bard. After he had given him the Arkenstone Bilbo got back to his steps to the camp.

XVII

The day after Bard came with 20 ambassadors and a purpose: the Arkenstone in exchange with 1\14 of silver and gold but Thorin declined the offer. Now the story has come to the battle of the five armies: Goblins and Wolves against elves, men and dwarves. Bilbo tried to escape but he saw eagles and got scared and also hit on the head by a stone.

XVIII

Bilbo woke up and a lovely man dragged him where Thorin was recovering with Gandalf. Sadly Thorin died because of his injures and was buried beneath the Mountain. Fili and Kili died as well. Gandalf and Bilbo started their return trip, road up to Beorn’s house; they arrived in winter and left in spring.

IXX

Bilbo finally arrived in his hobbit hole. He found as a welcome greeting the fact that everyone thought he was dead, and that they had sold his furniture.

MY OPINION

The Hobbit is surely the greatest fantasy book I have ever read. Usually I am not a fantasy’s lover, but reading a book by Tolkien is like visiting Rome: you must do it once in your life.

At the beginning I was full of prejudices about the Hobbit, I thought that it had to be a boring and childish tale, but it wasn’t at all. Tolkien paint a fantastic world, and he did it so perfectly that Bilbo, his friends and his story seemed to be real. I have grown fond to this little burglar hobbit, to all the dwarves and to Gandalf the wizard. As soon as I have finished the book I immediately borrowed the film, and then I bought the first book of the trilogy “The Lord of the Rings”. I didn’t want to leave all the characters, and this feeling of magic that was everywhere while I was reading the Hobbit.

Finally I can say that this book is, first: completely different from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley; second: the most epic fantasy that I have known in the whole fantasy series; third: a masterpiece.

(c) Beatrice Baldotto

The Hobbit by John R.R. Tolkien – Agnese Lorenzetto

About the author…

John R.R. Tolkien was born on the 3rd January 1892 in Bloemfontain (South Africa). He was a poet, writer, philologist and university professor. When he was three years old, he went to England with his brother and his mother, and they moved to Birmingham because his father had died. After serving in the First World War, he became best known for his books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, selling 150 million copies in more than 40 languages worldwide. Those books, were published by his son Christopher after Tolkien’s death. The Times ranked him sixth on a list of “the 50 greatest British writers since 1945”. Awarded the CBE and an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Oxford University, he died in 1973 at the age of 81.

Chapter 1-un unexpected party

Bilbo Baggins was a Hobbit. He was the son of Belladonna Took and Mr. Bungo Baggins. He lived in a clean and comfortable hole in the ground. It had a round door, painted green with a shiny yellow brass knob in the exact middle. Inside there was a tunnel, where there were all the rooms: bedrooms, bathrooms, wardrobes, kitchen, dining-­‐rooms…which were all on the same floor and in the same passage. The Bagginses were a very respectable family for their wealth and because they had any adventures or did unexpected things. One morning, when there was less noise and more green and when hobbits were still numerous, and Bilbo was standing at his door smoking a pipe; Gandalf came by. He was an old man with a staff. He had a tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, a silver scarf and a long white beard. Gandalf said that he was looking for someone to share an adventure. Bilbo didn’t want, he wanted him to go away, but the wizard didn’t move. Bilbo invited the wizard for a tea the next day, and he refused to share an adventure. Gandalf before going away, with the spike on his staff scratched a queer sign, the sign of burglars on the hobbit’s door. On the following day, a tremendous ring on the front-­‐door-­‐bell came, and Bilbo remembered the appointment with the wizard. It wasn’t the wizard, it was a dwarf with a blue beard called Dwalin. After a while, the doorbell rang again and more other dwarves came into Bagging’s house. They were: Balin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Ori, Nori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Thorin and Gandalf. They sat down around the table with the wizard, and they started eating, talking and singing. Thorin was the chief of dwarves, he was too important. All the thirteen dwarves told the story and their reason to this adventure: they wanted to reconquer Eldron, their home, and avenge Thror (Thorin’s grandfather). Gandalf asked Bilbo to share with them an adventure, but he refused again. After this, they went to sleep.

Chapter 2-roast mutton

The next morning, Bilbo woke up and he found nobody at the house. There was a fearful mess in the room, and piles of unwashed crocks in the kitchen. He was having breakfast when in walked Gandalf. Bilbo took the key and started running as fast as the great Mill, across The Water and then he joined all the thirteen dwarves. Thorin gave the hobbit a pony and they started this adventure. They hadn’t been riding very long, when Gandalf came on a white horse. They passed through hobbit-­‐lands, lands were people spoke strangely, Lonelands, lands were there wasn’t anything… One evening, one of the ponies took fright at nothing and bolted. He got into the river before the dwarves could catch him. Fili and Kili chased it, and they found a cave which came from a light. Thorin ordered Bilbo to go into the cave and to discover what it was…Bilbo found three very large trolls sitting around a very large fire of beech-­‐logs. Bilbo plucked up courage and put his little hand in William’s pocket (William is the name of a troll). Unfortunately William found the hobbit and fortunately trolls are slow in the uptake. Balin and all dwarves saw that scene and came up to defend Bilbo. Thorin, came last but Tom (the troll) captured him. All the dwarves included Bilbo were in prison. It was just then that Gandalf came back, but no one saw him. Gandalf saved all his friends and his voice kept the trolls bickering and quarrelling, until the light came and made an end of them. Mr.Baggins, Gandalf and thirteen dwarves searched and found a trolls’ treasure: swords of every sizes and types, gold, knives…The hobbit took a special sword made from elves then they brought up their ponies and continued the adventure.

Chapter 3-a short rest

They didn’t sing or tell stories that day. One morning they forded a river at a wide shallow place full of the noise of stones and foam. Bagging asked Gandalf where they were and he said that they were near the fair valley of Rivendell where Elrond lived. Morning passed, afternoon came and finally they reached Rivendell. They met some elves which brought them and their ponies to Elrond. Here all of them, the ponies as well, grew refreshed and strong, Their clothes were mended, their bags were filled with food and provisions. Elrond knew all about runes of every kind, and that day he looked at the swords they had taken from the trolls’ treasure. Elrond said that they were swords made by his family. Thorin also showed Elrond the map, and with the help of the moon, (that was shining in a broad silver crescent) he read the map. The elves loved maps, ruines and cunning handwriting; he said that the letters were moon-­‐letters (invented by the dwarves) that you could read only with a special moon. On the map there was written: “ Stand by the grey stone when the trush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin’s day (the first day of the dwarves’ New Year) will shine upon the key-­‐hole.” The next morning, thirteen dwarves and a hobbit started again their trip and they followed the path over the Misty Mountains to the land beyond.

Chapter 4-over hill and under hill

There were many paths that led up into those mountains, and many passed over them. Most of them were infested by evil things and danger. Long days after they had climbed out of the elves valley, they were still going up and up. Gandalf joined the group again and all the dwarves decided to sleep in a cave in the mountain. Before this, they inspected each corner of the cave and after this they went to sleep. Then came a wind and a rain, and a storm began. But that wasn’t only a storm, it was a battle between thunders. Bilbo was dreaming of a crack in the wall at the back of the cave got bigger and bigger and opened wider and wider…At that he woke up and found that part of his dream was real! Out jumped goblins, big goblins, lots of goblins! They captured Bilbo, his thirteen friends, ponies and baggage but not Gandalf. Goblins started singing and they brought all the prisoners in a big cavern to the Great Goblin. Thorin tried to convince the Great Goblin that they were there because they wanted to meet their families, and relatives; but the Great Goblin didn’t believe it because Thorin had Biter. It was the sword that killed hundreds of goblins. The king of goblins ordered to kill them, and in that moment Gandalf arrived, saved them and killed the Great Goblin. But Bilbo after all this mess, disappeared and lost his friends.

Chapter 5-riddles in the dark

When the hobbit opened his eyes, nobody near him was there. He decided to find a way to escape from there, but in vain. After some time, he felt for his pipe, so he smoked. The tunnel where he was seemed to have no end. There were a lot of passages and he just went only on and on, and down and down. His sword was shining and deep down here, Bilbo found Gollum, a small slimy creature, with two big pale eyes in his thin face. Gollum lived on a slimy island of rock in the middle of a lake. He was observing Bilbo. He took his boat and reached the hobbit. Bilbo understood that he always called himself my precious, he was hungry and angry. The two made a pact: if Gollum guessed three riddles, he could eat Bilbo; if Baggins guessed three riddles right, Gollum had to show the way to go away from there. Bilbo guessed the three riddles right, but Gollum in the third riddle “ What have I got in my pocket?” didn’t answer. Bilbo had a special ring, which he had found in the cavern, this ring had a special power: if you slipped it on your finger, you became invisible. That ring was the birthday present of Gollum, and after a while, the creature understood that Mr Baggins had it. Bilbo went away and wore the ring, and finally found the exit.

Chapter 6-out of the frying- pan into the fire

Bilbo had escaped the goblins and the terrible creature, but he had lost his cloack, food, hood, pony and his friends. Then he looked forward and could see that he had found the right path! He walked and suddenly he listened and heard some voices, it was Balin, Gandalf and all the dwarves! Bilbo reached them but before he slipped off the ring. They were all astonished, but anyway they started to walk, because goblins were looking for them, and they couldn’t loose time. So they ate something and they limped along now as fast as they were able down the pine forest in a slanting path… The moon was up and shining when all of a sudden they heard the howling of wolves! Bilbo and the others climbed up on trees and Dori helped the hobbit. For a time they were safe. Wolves arrived and they sat in a great circle; in the middle there was a great grey wolf. He spoke with Gandalf with the language of Wargs. The reason of their pursuit was the death of the Great Goblin. They started to sing in order to taunt them. Gandalf climbed up on the top of his tree and at that moment the Lord of the Eagles arrived and saved the wizard and the others and carried them off.

Chapter 7-queer lodgings

The next morning Bilbo woke up with the early sun in his eyes. The eagles had brought them on a great rock. Then they took off their clothes and bathed in the river. When they had dried in the sun, they began to march. Gandalf decided to go to the home of Beorn. Beorn was a skin-­‐changer. He was a bear descended from the great and ancient bears of the mountains that lived there before giants came. Beorn lived in an oak-­‐wood house he kept hives and hives of great fierce bees and lived most on cream and honey. After a while, Gandalf found the house. The wizard and the hobbit pushed open the gate and went down towards the house. Near it there was a huge man with a thick black beard and hair, and great bare arms. So Gandalf began to tell their story. He engaged Beorn, and as the dwarves come in pairs; the story included more people. Beorn invited all the dwarves into his house, he helped them and gave them room and board. The following day Beorn came back, and he gave some ponies, food and others useful things to continue the trip. He told them that they had to take the ponies back, as soon as they had arrived at Mirkwood.

Chapter 8-flies and spiders

They continued their walk, helped by Beorn’s advice. They didn’t lose the path. The hobbit was always hungry and thirsty too, for they were extremely careful with their provisions. After four days from the enchanted stream they came to a part where most of the trees were beeches. They lost the path, but fortunately two days later, they found it again. One evening, giant spiders captured the dwarves in webs; so Bilbo, alone, with the help of the ring, his little sword (which he named Sting) and some rocks, saved his thirteen friends… They laid for some time, but very soon, they began to ask Bilbo questions. The story of the ring interested them a lot! Days passed, and another danger came: the elves! They imprisoned Thorin and the other dwarves in one of the inmost caves with strong wooden doors and left them.

Chapter 9-barrels out of bond

The day after the battle with the spiders, Bilbo and the dwarves made one last despairing efforts to find a way out before they died from hunger and thirst. They arrived at a big hall with pillars hewn out of the living stone, the Elvenking sat on a chair of cavern wood. On his head there was a crown of berries and red leaves, and in his hand he held a staff of oak. The prisoners were brought before him, and the king started to ask Thorin why they were in his forest. Then the king ordered to put them in different cellars and to give food and drink. Bilbo in the meanwhile was trying to save them. He found all their cellars, also Thorin. At last after many difficulties, he managed to find the place when no one was about, and to have a word with the chief dwarf. Bilbo and Thorin made an excellent plan. Mr Baggins stole the key from a guard and saved his friends. First he unlocked Balin’s door then all the others. All together they passed through a door and reached a room where there were barrels. Bilbo went in one of them and escaped.

Chapter 10-a warm welcome

The day grew lighter and warmer. Bilbo and his friends reached Lake-­‐Town, a town populated by elves. Then they went to meet the Master of Lake town, who gave them ponies, room and board. Now they were all doctored and housed and fed and pampered in the highest fashion. Thorin received a large house, boats and rowers. Thorin and his companions stayed there for three days. At the end of a fortnight, Thorin began to think of departure. So he spoke to the Master and his cpuncillors and said that soon he and his company had to go on towards the Mountain. And the next day, all the dwarves and the hobbit left.

Chapter 11-on the doorstep

In two days they were right up the Long Lake and passed out into the River Running, and here they could see all the Lonely Mountain. At the end of the third day, some miles up the river, they drew in to the left or western bank and disembarked. They packed and rested with their ponies. They made their first camp on the western side of the great southern spur, which ended in a height called Ravenhill. Bilbo, Balin, Fili and Kili went to explore the area, and they discovered that the dragon Smaug was still alive. Thorin and all the company succeeded in opening a special door, made by dwarves, that took inside the Mountain.

Chapter 12-inside information

For a long time the dwarves stood in the dark before the door. Then Bilbo slipped on his ring and entered with Balin in the Mountain. It was almost dark, but rising from the near side of the rocky floor there was a great glow. The glow of Smaug! There he laid, a fast red-­‐golden dragon, fast asleep on countless piles of precious things, gold, gems, jewels, silver… Behind him there were helms, axes, swords… While Bilbo and the dwarves cowered just inside the passage, Smaug ate all their ponies. Bilbo tried to talk with the dragon, but he didn’t tell his name. Smaug after that, flew away and for some days Mr Baggins and his companions didn’t see him.

Chapter 13-not at home

The dwarves and the hobbit sat in the darkness and utter silence fell about them. Little they ate and little they spoke. They were trapped inside the Mountain, so they went to explore it, and they found the Arkenstone and the Heart of the Mountain. Oin had a small pine-­‐torch alight in his hand, and Gloin with a bundle of others under his arm. They even found the great chamber of Thror (Thorin’s grandfather).

Chapter 14-fire and water

Before long, they could see him as a spark of fire rushing towards them and growing ever huger and brighter. Bard, who was a descendant of the ruler of Dale, saw Smaug and decided to cut all the bridges. Bard used his arrows against the dragon, but in vain. Finally, Bard used his last arrow to fire into the spot under Smaug’s wing, and killed the dragon. The dragon fell on Lake-­‐Town and completed the work of destruction. Only five days after Smaug’s death, the elves came upon the shores and looked on the ruins of the town. Their welcome was good, as may be expected, and the men and their Master were ready to make some bargain for the future in return for the Elvenking’s aid. With the women and the children, the old and the unfit, and the Master began the planning of a new town, larger and fairer even than before.

Chapter 15-the gathering of the clouds

All the people acclaimed Bard. A bird informed Bilbo and the dwarves of Smaug’s death, and they rejoiced; but they also discovered that the elves were marching toward them. So the company retreated to the mountain and fortified it by building a formidable wall at the main gate. Bard informed Thorin and his friends that he killed Smaug and that Lake Town had been destroyed. The raven council’s peace decided to share the gold, but Thorin was adamant that the treasure was of the dwarves. The delegation requested that Thorin had to give one twelfth of Smaug’s treasure to Bard, as he killed the dragon, but Thorin refused and declared the mountain besieged.

Chapter 16-a thief in the night

Thorin was searching for the Arkenstone, that Bilbo had hidden in a bundle. Bilbo wanted to share the treasure and he decided that he had to convince Thorin. With the help of the ring, he went into the camp to visit Bard and the Elvenking. Bilbo showed and gave them the Arkenstone and told Bard and the Elvenking that he wanted use that stone in order to prevent a war and convince Thorin. They asked him to stay in the camp for his safety, but Bilbo decided to return to the mountain. Before this, Mr Baggins met Gandalf who had just arrived from his other affairs and he spoke a bit about their adventure. Then, Bilbo went away toward the mountain and he went to sleep.

Chapter 17-the cloud burst

In the morning, Bard returned with two messengers in order to persuade Thorin to accept a pact. Thorin refused again, so Bard revealed the Arkenstone, Thorin was astonished. Even better when Bilbo said that he was the one who gave Bard that stone. One of the two messengers was Gandalf, who commanded Thorin to let Bilbo speak. Thorin angrily offered to pay a fourteenth part of the treasure to regain the stone. But Thorin hoped that his family, who was marching toward them, could steal the magic stone by force. The night came and another danger was coming: an army of goblins and Wargs who intended to take the treasure for themselves. So the battle of five armies began. In the meanwhile, Bilbo stayed on the mountain watching the battle. Goblins and wolves were winning, when, Bilbo, with the help of his ring saw the great eagles flying toward the mountain. Unfortunately, a stone hit the hobbit’s head and he fainted.

Chapter 18-the return journey

When Bilbo woke up, the battle was finished and the dwarves had won. Bilbo took off the ring and went to the camp, where Gandalf was waiting for him. Unfortunately, Thorin was dying and Bilbo came toward him. Thorin understood his mistakes and asked to Bilbo to forgive all the words that he had said about the hobbit. Mr Baggins also discovered that Fili and Kili were killed trying to defend Thorin; but all the other dwarves were alive. Finally the dwarves were in peace with the elves and the lake men. Gandalf told Bilbo that the eagles helped win the battle, and that goblins were all death…Thorin was buried with the Arkenstone and Dain was elected the new king under the Mountain. Gandalf and Bilbo returned home with part of the treasure. They had some other adventures, and they went to visit the Elven king in Mirkwood and Beorn. They stayed with Beorn fore some months, then, at the outset of spring they left.

Chapter 19-the last stage

After a year, the wizard and the hobbit, reached Rivendell. There, Gandalf and Elrond spoke about many things: The Necromancer, The White Council of Wizards… Bilbo understood the reason why Gandalf left the company near Mirkwood. Gandalf had to participate in the the council of wizards to drive the Necromancer out of the forest… After a week, Mr Baggins and his companion, left Rivendell and finally, they reached Hobbiton and Bilbo’s house. His house was a disaster, and it was also on sale. Bilbo was never respected like before he left Hobbiton. Nobody believed in Bilbo’s stories, and he never spoke about the story of the ring with anybody. Fortunately, Gandalf and Balin often visited the hobbit. Bilbo didn’t care about it because he had his pipe, his house and all the comforts that he had never seen for many and many years to come!

Comment

I like this book. I love the way by which Tolkien tells and describes facts. My favourite character is Bilbo. I really admire his courage and his force although his height. Thanks to his intelligence, astuteness, and his abilities; he solved a lot of dangerous situations in a brilliant way. I like also the sense of union and solidarity between the dwarves, who welcomed Bilbo (more or less) immediately. I have never read the trilogy of The Hobbit, I just only saw the films; which are good, but anyway I prefer this book!

(c) Agnese Lorenzetto

Benjamin Franklin by Jenny Kostner

Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. His father emigrated from England to America in 1682 and he had two wives; from the first wife he had four children and from the second wife other ten. Benjamin was his last son from his second wife. In his childhood Benjamin worked for his bigger brother James in a print shop. On his brother’s newspaper “The New England Concern” B. Franklin published articles in which he talked about his ideas but he never signed the with his true name, but with the name of an elderly widow. He loved to spread his ideas in society. At the age of twenty one he traveled to London where he first heard about the Enlightenment. This was a historical movement in which people asked themselves about the origin if things trough reason. When Benjamin Franklin went back to America he began to spread his ideas and convinced the population of the new ideal. He always had different ideas, which were very well thought, because he was very intelligent man, much more than others, but he became a revolutionary only after he retired from the print shop he had opened in Philadelphia in 1742.

In those years he was already a famous man in America and a great politician. He was sent to England again to solve political problems by the government because everybody believed in his capacities and everybody knew how much Franklin loved America and wanted the best for his homeland. But Franklin was also in very good relationship with England and didn’t want the American population to hate it until 1765 when England asked higher taxes on stamps and tea. The Americans were furious, but Benjamin Franklin was able to calm them down and solve the situation, even if he had to use a dirty trick. But now even Franklin had to deal with the fact that England was using America only to maintain their own State financially, so he went to France in 1776 to ask King Louis XVI for help. France was the first country which recognized America’s autonomy and independence. France helped the Americans for over four years by sending them money and what the needed, because the American State was bankrupt and France hated Great Britain. On July 4^th 1776 America proclaimed the Independence. The only one who waited until the last battle was Benjamin Franklin, because until the end nothing was sure. England had a lot of power and could have invaded America again.

Not only the Americans but also the French population honored Franklin as the Founding Father. Everything started from his idea of independence and democracy which he was able to spread and which convinced the Americans. He was born by simple parents, but his intelligence was the key to realize his ideals. Franklin was a religious man who was convinced of God’s existence. For everything he reached and gained in his life he thanked God for having assisted him. He was a very courageous man who had many new ideas, but instead of complaining of America’s situation he started by putting into action a change thus helping not only himself but the whole country. He was a great and selfless man and he was always happy in his life and proud of himself, even if he was often alone in France and England, because his wife didn’t travel with him.

Franklin was not the only one who was able to convince people to change. He has not always been a revolutionary and he had loved England very much. While he was in London he dedicated himself to sciences. He studied the atmosphere especially the lightenings which he connected to electricity. Besides being a scientist and printer he was a writer, publisher and philosopher. His knowledge was enormous, that’s why all American believed in him and followed his ideals.

Franklin never gave up his revolutionary ideas even if his son William was against him. He and his son had a very strong relationship. Franklin helped his son to succeed in political life and William became the governor of New Jersey.

Thanks to Benjamin Franklin America was able to gain the Independence. He was the man whose ideas changed the whole mentality of society. At the beginning of the XVIII th century people were still very primitive and superficial. When Benjamin died, in 1790, America had turned into a completely different country, as if in between there had passed a thousand years. With Benjamin Franklin started the modern era, not only for America, but also for France, whose population took example from Franklin and his idea of democracy. Before America was only an English colony, thanks to Franklin it became not only independent, but even a democracy, from where all other States took example. Until now, modern countries have followed Franklin’s government method.

© Jenny Kostner, 2^nd A 2015/2016

 

Anna Costa: My inspiration CAROLINA KOSTNER

Everyone has a special inspiration… I think that it is really important to have one, because in that way in difficult situations you have someone that gives you the power and helps you not to quit. Of course I also have an inspiration; how couldn’t I live without one?

Since I was a little girl, I have admired Carolina Kostner… You are asking why?

Well, when I was four years old, my grandmother told me that I should try to ice skate. At first I wasn’t actually excited, but then she told me something about Carolina and I liked her right there. Together we watched some videos of her competitions and I loved her more and more. Until I saw her live one day and it was grandiose… But now I want to report some curiosities and other interesting things about her:

Free skating “Boléro”

 

LIFE:

Carolina Kostner was born on the 8^th February 1987, in Bolzano and lives in “Urtijëi” (Ortisei,Val Gardena). She grew up in a sportive family: her mother, Patrizia was a nationally ranked figure skater in the 1970s and her father Erwin, played ice hockey for the Italian national team at the World Championships and Olympic Games.

I also trained a week with Carolina’s mother; she was a really friendly and nice coach, a pity it was only for one week.

Carolina has also two athletic brothers, both hockey players. Beside that, she is the cousin of Isolde Kostner a silver medallist at the Winter Olympics 2002.

Carolina’s mother tongue is Ladin, like mine: Ladin is a Retro-Romanic language and her Ladin is a little bit different of mine, but we both have the same roots. Carolina speaks also German, Italian, English, and French.

Carolina was in a relationship with Alex Schwazer, who failed a dope test. Given the last that Carolina helped him to keep this secret, she was banned from ice skating races on January 2015 for 16 months, until May 15, 2016.

On January 2015 she wrote on her own web page: “I feel hurt and what bothers me the most is that my name might remain associated with something that I am totally against. Doping holds health hazards and above all it is against all my sporting principles. (…) It’s really hard for me but I will get back on my feet again as I have done many times in the past.” (Official web page by Carolina Kostner)

EARLY CAREER:

As I did, Carolina began skating, when she was four years old… She said: “Half of my family on my Dad’s side is in sports, and on my mother’s side is more involved in arts. For me, figure skating was a good mix of the two.” (Wikipedia, Carolina Kostner). In 2001 Carolina chose to work with Michael Huth, in Oberstdorf. Already when she was 15 years old, she finished fourth at the European Championship. In the same year, Carolina became the first Italian skater that won bronze at Junior Worlds.

Carolina won her first European medal in 2006 and at the Winter Olympics 2006, she placed 9^th.

At the Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi, Carolina placed 3^rd after her short program and free skate, behind Yuna Kim (South Korea). Later she said: “That night at the medal ceremony was very emotional; it was a moment when the circle closed for me and my career. I felt I missed nothing in my competitive career anymore.” (Wikipedia, Carolina Kostner).

“Dear friends,

it’s very difficult to find words for all the emotions I’ve been feeling these days … This is all I’ve always dreamed for and now I’m so happy that I am able not to only dream and believe it but also live it!

This medal is worth gold to me!

Thanks to all of you who have been supporting me throughout this journey!”, this is what Carolina has wrote on 22.02.2014, after the award ceremony of the Winter Olympics 2014 on her web page.

SKATING TECNIQUE:

I especially love Carolina because of her skating technique; when she skates, she is like an angel… She is very fast across the ice and a peculiarity of hers is that she makes all the spins and jumps in a clockwise direction.

SHOWS:

 

When I was in the primary school, one day my class and me went to the ice stadium in Corvara and there we saw Carolina at her training session. I suppose she was training for her exhibition at the show Winx on Ice, but I can’t remember exactly.

In my homeland, every summer there is the show Stars on Ice and this year, August 2015, it was the first time that she also performed. It was amazing! After the show she took also some time and made photos with us. It was the best show ever!

Stars on Ice 2015

 

 

CAROLINA KOSTNER AND GANES:

 

In February 2015, Carolina was the leading actress in the music video of the song “nëi” (ladin =snow) by the ladin band “Ganes”.

On her official web page Carolina wrote: “It’s a honor for me to unveil the “Nëi” music video, a very special cooperation between Ganes and I. With the artists I share, among other things, the love for our homeland and on Ladin mother tongue. It’s been very exciting to convey on ice the magic of such a beautiful song!” (Official web page by Carolina Kostner)

(Research with Wikipedia and Carolina’s Official Web side)

(c) Anna Costa

Frankenstein by Emily Inseam

Mary Shelley’s – Frankenstein          

 

Mary Shelley’s story begins with Robert Walton, a sailor, who is looking for a new passage from Russia to the Pacific Ocean by crossing the Arctic Ocean.
Months later the ship’s crew finds Victor Frankenstein on a small ice glacier at death’s door. They bring him to the ship and that is when he tells everyone his very sad story.

Victor Frankenstein is the son of Caroline and Alphonse Frankenstein who grows up in Geneva, Switzerland. His parents are passionate travellers so a few years after Victor’s birth they travel to Italy. One day they visit a farm and in that moment as Caroline, Victor’s mother, walks in the door she falls in love with a most beautiful little girl. She is an orphan and her name is Elisabeth Lavenza. She wants to adopt her and proceeds to do so. Elisabeth is so happy to have a family and she is such a cheerful child. Later on Caroline is infected with Scarlet Fever and Elisabeth takes care of her, but she unfortunately Caroline dies.
Victor realises how much he loves science and so he prepares to leave for his studies at the University of Ingolstadt.
In Ingolstadt he gets to know his professors M. Krempe and M. Waldman. Two years pass by and he is very involved in his studies and his ambition is to re-create a new life, by bringing a dead body and back to life. He spends day and night creating it and as he brings the creature back to life he realises what monster he has created. Afraid, Victor runs away, the monster leaves his apartment and goes into the woods, and Victor doesn’t see him anymore. Victor makes himself very ill by the shock and worry of it all and it is his best friend, Henry Clerval, who takes care of him during his illness.
One day Victor receives a letter from his father telling him he must return to Geneva immediately because his younger brother William has been strangled to death. This news shocks Victor even more, so he returns to Geneva and as he sees his brother’s body he realises that the monster he made, killed him. Victor doesn’t go to the police because he feels guilty of having created such a thing. Unfortunately, the police accuse Justine Moritz, their housekeeper, of the murder.
After this tragedy Victor decides to leave Geneva and he visits Montanvert, where he meets the monster. They take refuge in a small hut and the monster begins to tell his story…

The monster had taught himself to read and understand the language so that he could follow the lives of his “adopted” family, the De Laceys. He found some notes in a jacket he found in the woods. The monster realized they once belonged to Victor. By reading them he understood that he was not like all the other people, he was different from mankind and so he wanted a companion. He wanted Victor to create another monster.
Victor refuses his wish but the monster convinces him and he says he will leave Europe and move to South America if he creates another creature like him.
Victor agrees to begin his work on a second creation and makes plans to go to England and Scotland, with Henry Clerval. Before he leaves Geneva, Victor agrees to marry Elisabeth immediately after his return from Britain.
He stays on the Orkney Islands and he begins his work. He thinks a lot about the monsters‘ words but he cannot create another one so he destroys it. He put so many people’s lives at risk because he created the monster and he doesn’t want relive that shock again. He finds a boat and goes out to sea. Before he leaves Victor meets the monster again and breaks off the agreement. The monster vows revenge on Victor by murdering his family.
There’s a big storm and Victor’s boat gets blown off course and he ends up in Ireland. With Henry Clerval’s dead body having been washed up on Ireland’s shores, Victor feels guilty of having caused so many deaths and so he decides to go back to Geneva and marry Elisabeth as soon as possible.
The wedding goes off as planned and while Victor makes sure he barricades all the possible entrances the monster could use to get into the house, the monster climbs into Elisabeth’s room and strangles her.
Victor now wants revenge and chases the monster through Europe and Russia. Victor nearly catches the monster near the Arctic Circle when Robert Walton discovers him. Victor, now dying, is taken aboard Walton’s ship to recover.

The monster enters the cabin of the ship and tells Walton his side of the story. Victor dies, and the monster tells Walton that now his enemy is dead he doesn’t have anything or anybody else and he promises he will never come back or torment anybody ever again. The monster then disappears in the waves and darkness, and never comes back!

My comment:

Mary Shelley is a great author! I had no problems understanding her story because she explains things in such a detailed way and I really like that.
I don’t think this novel is a horror; it’s a tragic Gothic story. At the time Mary Shelley wrote it, people thought no such thing could ever happen. If we look back and think of how much mankind has created we have arrived at a point where our world is changing, where people are changing. Nobody knows what will happen in 50 years’ time. I think as time progresses, the world changes, people change because who knows, maybe one day people will be able to re-create such creatures. I don’t know now and Mary Shelley didn’t know at that time and it’s better that way.

Mary Shelley

Mary Wollestonecraft (Godwin) Shelley was born on August 30, 1797 in London, England to philosopher William Godwin and feminist Mary Wollestonecraft. Both her parents were very well known writers in the 19^th century.

When Mary was born, William and Mary had only been married for five months. Four weeks after giving birth, Mary Wollestonecraft died of complications. Mary Shelley never knew her mother. Her father remarried a woman named Mrs. Clairmont when Mary was four years old.
She enjoyed writing at a young age, and her passion was to write stories intended for a very limited audience. Between June 1812 and March 1814, Mary lived with relatives in Scotland. When she returned to London she met Percy Bysshe Shelley, and their relationship began. In 1814 they got married and in February 1815, Mary gave birth to a daughter, who was born prematurely and then died in March. Mary and her husband later moved to Bishopgate, England, and a second child, William, was born.
In 1816 they moved to Marlow, England and a third child, Clara Everina, was born. In 1818, they left England for Italy to escape mounting debts and to improve Percy’s health. It was during this time that both children died; Clara died in September 1818, and William died in June, in 1819. In 1822 her husband was drowned at sea and this changed Mary’s life completely. A year later, Mary Shelley returned to England and from then on devoted herself to the upbringing of her son and a career as a professional author.
Mary Shelley died at the age of 53 from a brain tumor.

(c) Emily Insam

The Hobbit by Marta Cattani

Something about the author…

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on the 3. January 1892, he was an English writer, a philologist, a poet and a university professor.

He became one of the closest friends of C.S. Lewis, they were members of an informal literary group called “Inklings”,

On 28 March 1972, Tolkien was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

As a child, he lost his father because of rheumatic fever in Africa. His mother brought him and his brother to England. Where, at the age of four, Tolkien could write fluently and read many books. In 1904, when J.R.R. Tolkien was only 12, his mother died of diabetes, she was 34 years old. After the death of his mother, Tolkien was assigned to Fr. Francis Xavier Morgan and grew up as a good Catholic.

In October 1911, after a long trip in Switzerland, Tolkien began studying at Exeter College, Oxford. He started studying Classics but changed his course in 1913 to English Language and Literature. He graduated with first-class honours in 1915.

On 22 March 1916, Tolkien married Edith Bratt, a friend since he was 16 years old. Tolkien admired his wife, who decided to marry a man with no job, little money and that could be killed during the Great War.

When the UK entered the First World War, in fact, Tolkien decided to fight for his Nation. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers and trained with the 13th Battalion. On 2. June 1916, he was sent to Somme, where he arrived in early July.

He had escaped death because he was several times ill and stayed at camp-hospitals.

When he returned to England, he started working for the Oxford English Dictionary, then, in 1920, became a reader in English Language at the University of Leeds, he was the youngest professor there.

In January 1939, he was asked to enter in the cryptographic department of the Foreign Office, he accepted, on March he took part in a course, but in October he was informed that his service would not be required.

In 1945, Tolkien moved to Merton College in Oxford, where he worked as a Professor of English Language and Literature. He remained there until his retirement (1959).

During his life in retirement (1959 – 1973) Tolkien became very famous, so popular that he had to take his phone number out of the public directory and, with Edith, he moved to Bournemouth.

Edith Tolkien died on 29 November 1971, at the age of 82.

J.R.R. Tolkien died 21 months later, on 2 September 1973, at the age of 81.

The couple was buried in the same grave at Wolvercote Cemetery in Oxford.

The Tolkiens had four children: John Francis (1917 – 2003), Michael Hilary (1920 – 1984), Christopher John (born 21 November 1924) and Priscilla Mary Anne (born 18 June 1929).

THE HOBBIT

This book was awarded a prize from the New York Herald Tribune for best juvenile fiction and it is recognized as a classic in children’s literature.

The central themes of this story are heroism and personal growth.

Some dates:

First publication: 21 September 1937

Illustration of my book by: Alan Lee

Number of pages: 387

Publishing house: Harper Collins Publishers

Chapter 1:”An unexpected party” (pages 3-36)

This is a story of how the hobbit Bilbo Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected.

The hobbits are a sedentary folk, they don’t have use for adventures. They are inclined to be fat, they dress in bright colours, wear no shoes, laugh deep.

They live in holes in the ground in the area of The Hill. Bilbo’s house has a perfectly round door, Hobbits don’t have stairs: the best rooms are on the left, because there are the windows.

It was April when Gandalf, with his tall pointed blue hat, the white beard and the black boots, came in Bilbo´s house. Gandalf was a very famous wizard in The Hill for his tales and his excellent fireworks, but that day he was there to invite Bilbo to participate in an adventure. Bilbo was not that happy, but he was a really polite hobbit and invited Gandalf to tea on the following day.

The following day Gandalf came, but not alone…with him, slowly, arrived other 13 dwarves: Dwalin, Balin, Kili and Fili (the youngest), Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur and the leader Thorin Oakenshield. They all had a mission: set free the Lonely Mountain, their house, from Old Smaug, a dragon that had killed almost all Thorin’s population and had taken place in the treasure trove.

Chapter 2:”Roast Mutton” (pages 37-57)

At the end of the report, Bilbo decided to help the dwarves and became their “burglar”, the one that had to build up planes and open doors.

Their adventure started just before May. They left on ponies, their destination: The Lonely Mountain.

One night Bilbo encountered 3 trolls who were eating near a fire. Unfortunately they managed to catch him and to catch also all the other dwarves. While the trolls were discussing about how to cook the company, a powerful light hit them and transformed them into stones. Gandalf had saved the dwarves.

After this setback, the company managed to find the troll’s cave where Thorin and Gandalf took two swords and a lot of food for their companions.

Chapter 3:”A short Rest” (pages 58-69)

After other long days, thanks to the guide of the wizard, the company reached the Misty Mountain and the Last Lonely House, where the Valley of Rivendell was placed. Here they stayed for about 14 days with the elves and their chiefs Elrond. The King Elrond gave them some help with the decodification of the map of the Lonely Mountain.

He discovered where the entry was and how they could arrive there.

Chapter 4:”Over Hill and Under Hill” (pages 70-86)

After 14 days of rest, the company greeted the elves and took to the right road. From there they found a hard, long, dangerous path. During the night they also found themselves in the middle of a stone-giants fight, so Kili and Fili were sent to find a better shelter. They found a dry cave, Gandalf explored it and said that it was safe, but it wasn’t so…after some time, Goblins came out, rubbed the ponies, Gandalf managed to escape while the others were brought to Goblin-town to the Great Goblin. Fortunately Gandalf had a big heart and decided to follow them, enter the town and kill the Great Goblin. The company began to run, but Dori and Bilbo fell. Bilbo hit his head and remained behind.

Chapter 5:”Riddles in the Dark” (pages 87-115)

When Bilbo woke up, he understood that he was alone and started to walk in search of someone. At one point he found a ring, put it in his pocket just before Gollum appeared…Gollum was a diabolic creature and suggested a riddle contest, if Bilbo had won, Gollum had to bring him to the exit. The last of Bilbo’s riddle was: “What have I got in my pocket?” Gollum failed, so he had to show Bilbo the way, but first he went to his cave and searched for his ring. Gollum was not stupid and was hungry, he wanted to put on the magic ring, that made invisible and hit Bilbo, but he didn’t find the ring…

Chapter 6:”Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire” (pages 116-142)

Hopefuly Bilbo put the ring on and managed to escape. He seemed to have the right to the other side of the Misty Mountain, right to the edge of the land beyond. He heard voices and recognized Balin, he took the ring off and went down. He didn’t talk about the ring, he just told them about Gollum. After the little report, the company continued on its way until an opening area where no trees grew. This idea wasn’t one of the most clever, just after some time, wolves came. The dwarves and Bilbo had to climb on trees and the wizard picked up a fire, but the goblins came and used the smoke against the company. Everything was saved by the Lord of the Eagles, an old friend of the wizard who scared the goblins.

Chapter 7:”Queer Lodgings” (pages 143-177)

The eagles brought the company to the Carroek, a flat space with a stone in the centre. Gandalf remembered that some miles north from there a friend of his lived, Beorn was his name. He was a skin-changer: during the day he was a great strong black-haired man with huge arms and a great beard, during the night he was transformed into a huge black bear. He was not the sort of person to ask questions, for this reason the wizard recommended to enter the house two by two.

They had dinner there and stayed for two days.

On the second day Beorn gave them ponies, horse, food, cakes, skins for carrying water and bows and arrows. They rode for two other days.

On the 4. day they reached the Dark Forest, here lived the eaves of Mirkwood, they sent back the ponies and Gandalf left. He said to them:” Good-bye! Be good, take care of yourselves and don’t leave the path!”

Chapter 8:”Flies and Spiders” (pages 178-217)

The company entered the Dark Forest in a single row. In that forest black squirrels lived, all the time it was nearly completely dark, but during the nights they saw eyes all around them.

The first day they found a river and a boat, Fili managed to hang it with a rope, but Bombur fell into the water and fell asleep for 4 days or more. In the meantime a white deer appeared, the dwarves lost their last arrows and started to despain. They didn’t know that the white deer was a sign, they weren’t that far from the end of the forest. Unfortunately they were attracted by an elvish-looking folks party. They followed them 3 times then something terrible happened… big spiders began to tie with their cobwebs Bilbo and the other, they were far from the path now. Hopefully Bilbo woke up in time, unsheathed his sword and kill the spider who was tidying him. (For this reason he called his sword: Sting.) To save the dwarves, Bilbo put on the magic ring, became invisible and began to throw stones in order to bring the spiders as far as he could and then came back to his friends. The first dwarf to be saved was Fili… there were still 5 dwarves in trap when the spiders began to return and, when all of them were set free, the battle began.

In all that confusion the company didn’t see that Thorin was missing. In fact he was carried away by the elves after he had fallen asleep near their “party-area”.

Chapter 9:”Barrels out of Bond” (pages 218-240)

Instead of looking for Thorin, Bilbo and the dwarves began to look for the path, but the wood-elves stopped them. Bilbo had the chance to put the ring on, but the other ones were brought to the cave of the King. They stayed there for about a week or two, while Bilbo looked for a way to set them free again. He managed to “borrow” the keys of the prisons and carried the dwarves to a stream that flowed to the east; there they found a lot of empty barrels and waited in them until the elves put them in the stream.

Chapter 10:”A Warm Welcome” (pages 241-256)

Bilbo sat over his barrel and looked at the landscape, until he saw the Mountain! It was late day when the barrels, and the dwarves, arrived to the Long Lake, from there flowed the Forest River and on its bank the company found a Mens-town. The town was very powerful at Dales’ time, but now it was time for the dwarves to be set free; after that, Bilbo, Fili, Kili and Thorin went to the Master of Lake-town. They managed to receive a house and all the medical care for the entire company. After a week the Master gave them three ships, ponies and food, they were ready for the last part of their route.

Chapter 11:”On the Doorstep” (pages 257-268)

After two days they arrived to the River Running, from there they could already see the Mountain. On the next day they disembarked and rode on their ponies. On the fourth day they reached the Desolation of Smaug: the area where no grass grew and no-one could survive.

It was winter when they built up the first camp on a height called Ravenhill; here Bilbo, Kili, Fili and Balin went to look for the Front Gate. They found it after days of search on the top of the cliff. A night passed by, then the group, except for Bofur and Balin who had to stay with the ponies, went up and tried to open the magical Gate. Fortunately the next day, by sunset, the lock appeared and Thorin opened the door.

Chapter 12:”Inside Information” (pages 269-296)

Bilbo, as a burglar, had to be the first to enter the cave…also Balin decided to enter, but stopped after a while and bade Bilbo “Good luck”. The hobbit, alone, put the ring on and began to follow a red light and a noise, like an animal snoring. He found himself in the dangeon-hall and saw Smaug asleep on an amount of precious things. Bilbo stole a cup and ran away back to the dwarves. After a little time, Smaug woke up: the cup was missing and this made him so angry that he came to the Gate; Bilbo, Balin, Fili and Kili escaped in the tunnel, the other went to Bombur and Bofur, who were with the ponies, and saved them.

The dragon came out, ate the ponies and began to fly around the Mountain, then he went back to his hall. Bilbo was sent there to talk with him; as usual he put the ring on and started to speak with Smaug. The dragon wasn’t stupid, he knew that there were dwarves and started to confuse Bilbo with his speeches. When the hobbit returned to the rest of the company, he was worried, he felt uncomfortable and decided to shut the door and remain in the Mountain.

They made the right decision, because only after a couple of minutes, Smaug flew upon the Mountain towards Lake-town. 

Chapter 13:”Not at Home” (pages 297-312)

The company waited in the darkness for days; they had no idea about where Smaug was, so they decided to go down to the hall. The dragon wasn’t there and they began to look for a beautiful stone, the heart of the Mountain: the Arkenstone. Bilbo found it, but he decided to keep it for himself. From the hall, Thorin showed the way to the Front Gate, from there they went to the old guard room and had a rest.

Chapter 14:”Fire and Water” (pages 313-325)

But where was Smaug??

He was gone for about 2 days…he flew to the Lake-town and attacked it. There was a terrible battle: soon everyone tried to escaped, except Bard, the descendant of Birion, Lord of Dale. He managed to kill Smaug!

After the death of Smaug, most of those who survived wanted Bard as their King, but he decided to go and rebuild Dale. Also the elves came, began to rebuild the town and went to the Mountain.

Chapter 15:”The Gathering of the Clouds” (pages 326-339)

In the meantime a raven flew to the dwarves and announced the death of the dragon. The company reinforced the main entrance and remained informed by the ravens. Bard arrived and, after a long talk and a lot of refuses, declared the Mountain besieged. The dwarves and Bilbo were in a trap!

Chapter 16:”A Thief in the Night” (pages 340-348)

Thorin called 500 dwarves from the Iron Hills, Bilbo had to stop this fight: he took the tour from Bombur, put the ring on and went down to the camp. There he took his magic ring off and talked to Bard; he gave him the Arkenstone and, on his way back, Gandalf appeared and complimented him for his work.

Chapter 17:”The Clouds Burst” (pages 349-364)

On the next day an embassy with 20 men, including Bard and the Elvenking, came to Thorin: they wanted to give him the Arkenstone and in exchange they wanted 1/14 in silver and gold. Thorin denied and the following day the other dwarves came. Battle was about to begin…This incredible battle was called: “The Battle of Five Armies”. The Goblins and the Wild Wolves against Elves, Men and Dwarves. Bilbo ran away, but saw the eagles fly upon his head and a stone hit him and he fell.

Chapter 18:”The Return Journey” (pages 365-376)

Bilbo woke up, a man found him and carried him to the camp in the valley where he met Gandalf and Thorin. Thorin was injured and died. He was buried beneath the Mountain with the Arkenstone with his sword Urcrist. Dain, son of Nain, became King under the Mountain, 10 remained with him and Bilbo discovered that also Fili and Kili had died defending Thorin. Dain gave Bilbo two small chests full of silver and gold, then the hobbit and the wizard rode behind the Elvenking to the forest. There they decided to go along the edge, round its northern end with Beorn. The three arrived at Beorn’s house by mid-winter and Bilbo and Gandalf left by spring.

Chapter 19:”The Last Stage” (pages 377-387)

They reached the Valley of Rivendell on May the First. They stayed there only a week, then they rode away. When they arrived home, Bilbo discovered that he was “Presumed Dead”, so all his furniture were being sold and he had to re-buy it.

One autumn evening Gandalf and Balin came to visit him: Bard had rebuilt Dale, the Valley had become rich again, Lake-town was found again and men, dwarves and elves lived in peace now.

COMMENT:

I started watching “The Lord of the Rings” films, when I was about 5 years old, I also read the Italian version of the books, but I’ve never had the occasion and the ability to read the English version! I really enjoyed this book, and I also found some differences from the Italian one. This summer I went to Bournemouth and I have looked for the book with the original illustration, the one by Tolkien. I found it, but it was too expensive, so I’ve only looked at it. The illustrations were beautiful, they brought me to an other world, into Tolkien’s world!

Reading this book is like stopping your life and starting to follow Bilbo’s life. It’s an adventure full of suspense and fear and the characters are never too many!

I think that I’m going to read also the other three books and I have to return to Oxford and look for Tolkien’s burial site.

I recommend this book to everyone. This is the kind of book which is perfect for girls who want to live a crazy adventure and for boys who want to feel what real fear is. This book is for everyone who has the time to imagine things, to create things, to just leave his life and live an adventurous adventure!

(c) Marta Cattani

Andreas Kuhnle in Bournemouth

 

 

An awesone experience in my life

 

Emotions and feelings were mixed when I got on the plane back to Italy. I was happy to see my real family again but sad to leave my old life behind me.

During the nine months I spent in Bournemouth, I learned to be independent, to count only on myself. If I had problems there weren’t my parents to help me as usual, just my knowledge of English and my courage to go a step forward. Believe or not, I was surprised how less I knew about myself ! However, my character sort of limits me in making new relationships, this time I just took any possibility to meet new people and also make new friends.

I was not alone in making of this year a success my host-family supported me. I got really attached to my new family that gave me a base to build my new life. We spent so much time together talking, discussing or playing. It wasn’t just fun, but also a way to improve the language.

Talking about the school, I had to learn to forget the Italian method and adopt a new one. Starting from how to attend to the different classes, to the way of taking exams and tests. Even if my knowledge of understanding everything at first wasn’t the best, the teachers and staff helped me to learn better and to be more efficient. 

We always had to give our feedback, to let them know where they could improve and when they were doing well.

Outside the school I played, as usual, volleyball but my most common hobby was to visit new places and get to know the English culture better. I discovered wonderful places that strengthened my interest in the country. 

In conclusion, I am very grateful for the time and the opportunity I had and I would like to let other students know that my experience was worth both time and effort. They should also try it since it changes your life.

 

(c) Andreas Kuhnle

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

Saranda

 

 

SARANDA

My name is Rafaela Isufi. I am a fifteen-year-old Albanian girl and I study in Bolzano now, first class of the Linguistic Lyceum, Marcelline Institute. As everyone does, I also love talking about my hometown because I think it is like talking about warmness, joy, love, that special feeling of our spirit’s peace and safety which are deeply true and able to touch even the coldest hearts. That’s the very first thing that crosses our minds when we think about the place where we have first breathed and have the first met with this enormous world near the strongest love that was born with us for those that brought us to life and to be our eternal fellows in this mysterious journey, a gift that each of us receives only ones. That’s the reason why the place where we were born and grew up in our families and close to the people we love most has such a big importance and owns a special place in everyone’s hearts and unique love. It is the only one that stays closest to our family’s love, to the ones with whom we have shared the most beautiful and special moments of our lives.

     That’s how my hometown is to me, a small space in this giant world, but holding a big treasure inside it, which with its potentials is able to attract local and foreign tourists every year. They love it at the first sight and they always come back to enjoy the diamonds that its treasure holds.

Saranda is a small town near the Ionian Sea, part of the southern coast, and it’s called “The Pearl of The Albanian Riviera”, due to its wonderful beaches surrounded by marvelous natural beauties, many of which are protected by UNESCO because of their rare values even in the Balkan range.

     The warm Mediterranean climate allows for a hot summer and a short and temperate winter, thus becoming the ideal destination for the summer holidays. The town has the form of a middle moon surrounded by the crystal clear waters of the Ionian beaches, with a very fine moon that shines during the calm nights reflecting on the waters of our sea, and with a beautiful and smiling sun that accompanies us for approximately 320 days a year. The beaches are gorgeous.

     Besides the beauty that the sea gives, there is a large variety of natural, historical, cultural and archeological monuments that represent in the best way the history of our town from antiquity, being illustrated also with a lot of ancient objects representing different periods in time.

   Talking about tourist attractions, you can have the best view of the town from “The Castle of Lekuresi”, built on the top of the hill with the same name, of the XV century. From there you can see Saranda, and you can enjoy an awesome view from this spectacular height.

   “Butrinti”, positioned 15km from the town, is considered unique in the Balkan range , due to its ancient city with the same name, the big amphitheater, the churches, the cathedrals, the giant forest and the lake with its cultivation of mussels, the symbol of our town. Every year they organize a special concert for “The Queen” of our town: “The Mussel”.

   “The Blue Eye” is the first on this list of very important attractions. It is the biggest and the most beautiful waterhole in Albania. It trickles forming a big blue eye surrounded by a permanent green and natural beauties transformed into a divine place.

   These are just a few beauties my town has to offer you, the best thing would be to visit and enjoy its miracles.

(c) Rafaela Isufi

 

 

 

///